The most beautiful masses of lava, in the most varied and picturesque forms, occupy the whole immeasurable valley.

Lava is to be seen there in a rough glassy state, forming exquisite flames and arabesques; and in immense slabs, lying sometimes scattered, sometimes piled in strata one above the other, as though they had been cast there by a flood.

Among these, again, lie mighty isolated streams, which must have been frozen in the midst of their course.

From the different colours of the lava, and their transitions from light grey to black, we can judge of the eruptions which have taken place at different periods.
The mountains surrounding this valley are mostly of a sombre hue; some are even black, forming a striking contrast to the neighbouring jokuls, which, in their large expanse, present the appearance almost of a sea of ice.

I found one of these jokuls of a remarkable size; its shining expanse extended far down into the valley, and its upper surface was almost immeasurable.
The other mountains were all smooth, as though polished by art; in the foreground I only noticed one which was covered with wonderful forms of dried lava.