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Show ICEBERGS IN NORTH ATLANTIC. A PECULIAR FORMATION. Icebergs as are not stranded on the rocky shores drift past Belle Isle and Newfoundland, across the paths of the trans-Atlantic steamers, until they reach the higher temperature of the gulf stream, in which they gradually melt and disappear. Their most southerly limit is Cape Hatteras, and their eastern limit passes close to the Azores. Their field is then bounded by a line that runs north to southern Greenland, with a sweep -again to the east along the shores of Iceland, thence north into the Arctic ocean and east to Nova Zembla. It is a matter of surprise to persons who become acquainted with icebergs for the' first time to learn that they are frozen fresh water and are not salt They are formed of fresh water, frosen many centuries ago, during which t&ejr have been slowly traveling to the sea. The danger of navigation by icebergs is very great, and many a good ship lost mysteriously at sea has foundered from collision with one of them drifting dense fog. In 1894 the steamship Miranda, Mi-randa, carrying a party of scientists to Greenland, came into collision with an iceberg in the straits of Belle Isle, almost al-most foundered, and was compelled t run to St. John's, N. F., for repairs. In crossing Davis strait the Miranda again encountered numberless Icebergs Ice-bergs of all sizes and of the greatest variety of fantastic shapes. Sailing toward to-ward one of these a spirited discussion arose on board as to its size, the estimates esti-mates made putting it all the way from 200 to 1,000 feet in height It was measured by the sextant and was found to be 800 feet high and to cover an arnsy of flva acres. |