A New Inland Sea

At first I could hardly see anything. My eyes, unaccustomed to the light, quickly closed. When I was able to reopen them, I stood more stupefied even than surprised.

At first, I could hardly see anything. My eyes weren't used to the light, and they quickly closed. When I could open them again, I stood there more stunned than surprised.

"The sea!" I cried.

"The sea!" I cried.

"Yes," my uncle replied, "the Liedenbrock Sea; and I don't suppose any other discoverer will ever dispute my claim to name it after myself as its first discoverer."

"Yes," my uncle replied, "the Liedenbrock Sea. And I don't suppose any other explorer will dispute my right to name it after myself, since I discovered it first."

A vast sheet of water, the commencement of a lake or an ocean, spread far away beyond the range of the eye, reminding me forcibly of that open sea which drew from Xenophon's ten thousand Greeks, after their long retreat, the simultaneous cry, "Thalatta! thalatta!" the sea! the sea! The deeply indented shore was lined with a breadth of fine shining sand, softly lapped by the waves, and strewn with the small shells which had been inhabited by the first of created beings. The waves broke on this shore with the hollow echoing murmur peculiar to vast inclosed spaces. A light foam flew over the waves before the breath of a moderate breeze, and some of the spray fell upon my face. On this slightly inclining shore, about a hundred fathoms from the limit of the waves, came down the foot of a huge wall of vast cliffs, which rose majestically to an enormous height. Some of these, dividing the beach with their sharp spurs, formed capes and promontories, worn away by the ceaseless action of the surf. Farther on the eye discerned their massive outline sharply defined against the hazy distant horizon.

A vast expanse of water, the beginning of a lake or an ocean, stretched beyond the reach of my eyes. It reminded me strongly of the open sea that Xenophon's ten thousand Greeks saw after their long retreat. At the sight, they all cried out, "Thalatta! thalatta!" the sea! the sea! Fine, shining sand lined the deeply indented shore, where the waves washed gently over it. The sand was scattered with small shells once inhabited by the first beings ever created. The waves broke on the shore with the hollow, echoing murmur peculiar to vast enclosed spaces. A moderate breeze blew light foam across the waves, and some spray fell on my face. On this gently sloping shore, about a hundred fathoms from the water's edge, stood a huge wall of cliffs. They rose majestically to an enormous height. Some cliffs sent sharp spurs across the beach, forming capes and promontories worn down by the endless surf. Farther away, their massive outlines stood out sharply against the hazy horizon.

It was quite an ocean, with the irregular shores of earth, but desert and frightfully wild in appearance.

It was a vast ocean, with irregular shores like those on Earth, but barren and frighteningly wild.

If my eyes were able to range afar over this great sea, it was because a peculiar light brought to view every detail of it. It was not the light of the sun, with his dazzling shafts of brightness and the splendour of his rays; nor was it the pale and uncertain shimmer of the moonbeams, the dim reflection of a nobler body of light. No; the illuminating power of this light, its trembling diffusiveness, its bright, clear whiteness, and its low temperature, showed that it must be of electric origin. It was like an aurora borealis, a continuous cosmical phenomenon, filling a cavern of sufficient extent to contain an ocean.

I could see far across this great sea because a strange light revealed every detail. It was not sunlight, with its dazzling beams and splendid rays. Nor was it the pale, uncertain shimmer of moonlight, a dim reflection of a nobler light. No, this light had to be electric. Its power to illuminate, its trembling, diffused glow, its bright, clear whiteness, and its coolness all showed that. It was like the northern lights, a continuous cosmic phenomenon filling a cavern large enough to hold an ocean.

The vault that spanned the space above, the sky, if it could be called so, seemed composed of vast plains of cloud, shifting and variable vapours, which by their condensation must at certain times fall in torrents of rain. I should have thought that under so powerful a pressure of the atmosphere there could be no evaporation; and yet, under a law unknown to me, there were broad tracts of vapour suspended in the air. But then 'the weather was fine.' The play of the electric light produced singular effects upon the upper strata of cloud. Deep shadows reposed upon their lower wreaths; and often, between two separated fields of cloud, there glided down a ray of unspeakable lustre. But it was not solar light, and there was no heat. The general effect was sad, supremely melancholy. Instead of the shining firmament, spangled with its innumerable stars, shining singly or in clusters, I felt that all these subdued and shaded lights were ribbed in by vast walls of granite, which seemed to overpower me with their weight, and that all this space, great as it was, would not be enough for the march of the humblest of satellites.

The vault overhead, the sky, if it could be called that, seemed made of vast stretches of cloud. The shifting vapors must sometimes condense and fall in torrents of rain. I would have thought that such powerful atmospheric pressure would prevent evaporation. Yet, under some law unknown to me, broad stretches of vapor hung in the air. But then, 'the weather was fine.' The electric light created strange effects in the upper layers of cloud. Deep shadows lay on their lower folds. Often, between two separate banks of cloud, a ray of indescribable brilliance slipped down. But it was not sunlight, and it gave no warmth. The overall effect was sad, profoundly melancholy. There was no shining sky dotted with countless stars, shining alone or in clusters. Instead, I felt that these dim, shadowed lights were enclosed by vast walls of granite. The walls seemed to overwhelm me with their weight. And all this space, vast as it was, seemed too small for even the humblest satellite to move through.

Then I remembered the theory of an English captain, who likened the earth to a vast hollow sphere, in the interior of which the air became luminous because of the vast pressure that weighed upon it; while two stars, Pluto and Proserpine, rolled within upon the circuit of their mysterious orbits.

Then I remembered an English captain’s theory. He compared the earth to a vast hollow sphere. Inside it, the air glowed because of the enormous pressure on it. And two stars, Pluto and Proserpine, traveled inside the sphere along their mysterious orbits.

We were in reality shut up inside an immeasurable excavation. Its width could not be estimated, since the shore ran widening as far as eye could reach, nor could its length, for the dim horizon bounded the new. As for its height, it must have been several leagues. Where this vault rested upon its granite base no eye could tell; but there was a cloud hanging far above, the height of which we estimated at 12,000 feet, a greater height than that of any terrestrial vapour, and no doubt due to the great density of the air.

We were actually trapped inside an immense cavern. We could not estimate its width, because the shore widened as far as we could see. Nor could we estimate its length, because the dim horizon limited our view. The cavern must have been several leagues high. No one could see where its vaulted roof rested on the granite below. But a cloud hung far above us, at a height we estimated to be 12,000 feet. That was higher than any cloud on the earth's surface, no doubt because the air was so dense.

The word cavern does not convey any idea of this immense space; words of human tongue are inadequate to describe the discoveries of him who ventures into the deep abysses of earth.

The word cavern gives no idea of this immense space. Human language cannot describe what someone discovers by venturing into the deep abysses of the earth.

Besides I could not tell upon what geological theory to account for the existence of such an excavation. Had the cooling of the globe produced it? I knew of celebrated caverns from the descriptions of travellers, but had never heard of any of such dimensions as this.

Besides, I could not think of a geological theory that explained such a hollow. Had it formed as the earth cooled? I knew of famous caverns from travelers' descriptions, but I had never heard of one this large.

If the grotto of Guachara, in Colombia, visited by Humboldt, had not given up the whole of the secret of its depth to the philosopher, who investigated it to the depth of 2,500 feet, it probably did not extend much farther. The immense mammoth cave in Kentucky is of gigantic proportions, since its vaulted roof rises five hundred feet¹⁰ above the level of an unfathomable lake and travellers have explored its ramifications to the extent of forty miles. But what were these cavities compared to that in which I stood with wonder and admiration, with its sky of luminous vapours, its bursts of electric light, and a vast sea filling its bed? My imagination fell powerless before such immensity.

Humboldt explored the grotto of Guachara in Colombia to a depth of 2,500 feet. If the cave had not revealed its full depth to him, it probably did not extend much farther. The immense mammoth cave in Kentucky is enormous. Its vaulted roof rises five hundred feet¹⁰ above a bottomless lake, and travelers have explored its branches for forty miles. But how could those caves compare to the one where I stood in wonder and admiration? It had a sky of glowing vapors, bursts of electric light, and a vast sea filling its floor. My imagination was powerless before such immensity.

I gazed upon these wonders in silence. Words failed me to express my feelings. I felt as if I was in some distant planet Uranus or Neptune—and in the presence of phenomena of which my terrestrial experience gave me no cognisance. For such novel sensations, new words were wanted; and my imagination failed to supply them. I gazed, I thought, I admired, with a stupefaction mingled with a certain amount of fear.

I stared at these wonders in silence. I had no words to express my feelings. I felt as if I were on a distant planet, Uranus or Neptune. I was witnessing phenomena unlike anything I had experienced on Earth. These new sensations needed new words, but my imagination could not supply them. I stared, thought, and admired, stunned and somewhat afraid.

The unforeseen nature of this spectacle brought back the colour to my cheeks. I was under a new course of treatment with the aid of astonishment, and my convalescence was promoted by this novel system of therapeutics; besides, the dense and breezy air invigorated me, supplying more oxygen to my lungs.

The unexpected sight brought color back to my cheeks. I was undergoing a new treatment based on astonishment, and this novel therapy helped me recover. Besides, the dense, breezy air refreshed me, supplying more oxygen to my lungs.

It will be easily conceived that after an imprisonment of forty seven days in a narrow gallery it was the height of physical enjoyment to breathe a moist air impregnated with saline particles.

It is easy to imagine the immense physical pleasure of breathing moist, salty air after forty-seven days confined in a narrow passage.

I was delighted to leave my dark grotto. My uncle, already familiar with these wonders, had ceased to feel surprise.

I was delighted to leave my dark cave. My uncle was already familiar with these wonders, so they no longer surprised him.

"You feel strong enough to walk a little way now?" he asked.

"Do you feel strong enough to walk a little now?" he asked.

"Yes, certainly; and nothing could be more delightful."

"Yes, of course. Nothing could be more delightful."

"Well, take my arm, Axel, and let us follow the windings of the shore."

"Well, take my arm, Axel, and let's follow the curves of the shore."

I eagerly accepted, and we began to coast along this new sea. On the left huge pyramids of rock, piled one upon another, produced a prodigious titanic effect. Down their sides flowed numberless waterfalls, which went on their way in brawling but pellucid streams. A few light vapours, leaping from rock to rock, denoted the place of hot springs; and streams flowed softly down to the common basin, gliding down the gentle slopes with a softer murmur.

I eagerly agreed, and we began to travel along the shore of this new sea. On the left, huge pyramids of rock were piled on top of one another, creating a magnificent, towering sight. Countless waterfalls flowed down their sides, becoming noisy but crystal-clear streams. Wisps of vapor drifted from rock to rock, marking the spots where hot springs lay. Streams flowed gently down the slopes into the common basin, murmuring more softly as they went.

Amongst these streams I recognised our faithful travelling companion, the Hansbach, coming to lose its little volume quietly in the mighty sea, just as if it had done nothing else since the beginning of the world.

Among these streams, I recognized our faithful traveling companion, the Hansbach. It flowed quietly into the mighty sea, as if it had done nothing else since the beginning of the world.

"We shall see it no more," I said, with a sigh.

"We won't see it again," I said with a sigh.

"What matters," replied the philosopher, "whether this or another serves to guide us?"

"What does it matter," replied the philosopher, "whether this or another guides us?"

I thought him rather ungrateful.

I thought he was rather ungrateful.

But at that moment my attention was drawn to an unexpected sight. At a distance of five hundred paces, at the turn of a high promontory, appeared a high, tufted, dense forest. It was composed of trees of moderate height, formed like umbrellas, with exact geometrical outlines. The currents of wind seemed to have had no effect upon their shape, and in the midst of the windy blasts they stood unmoved and firm, just like a clump of petrified cedars.

But at that moment, an unexpected sight caught my attention. Five hundred paces away, around the bend of a high promontory, stood a tall, dense forest with tufted tops. Its moderately sized trees were shaped like umbrellas, with precise geometric outlines. The winds seemed to have had no effect on their shape. Even in the gusts, they stood firm and unmoving, like a clump of petrified cedars.

I hastened forward. I could not give any name to these singular creations. Were they some of the two hundred thousand species of vegetables known hitherto, and did they claim a place of their own in the lacustrine flora? No; when we arrived under their shade my surprise turned into admiration. There stood before me productions of earth, but of gigantic stature, which my uncle immediately named.

I hurried forward. I could not name these strange forms. Were they among the two hundred thousand plant species known so far? Did they belong to the flora of lakes? No. When we came under their shade, my surprise turned to admiration. Before me stood plants of enormous size, which my uncle immediately named.

"It is only a forest of mushrooms," said he.

"It's only a forest of mushrooms," he said.

And he was right. Imagine the large development attained by these plants, which prefer a warm, moist climate. I knew that the Lycopodon giganteum attains, according to Bulliard, a circumference of eight or nine feet; but here were pale mushrooms, thirty to forty feet high, and crowned with a cap of equal diameter. There they stood in thousands. No light could penetrate between their huge cones, and complete darkness reigned beneath those giants; they formed settlements of domes placed in close array like the round, thatched roofs of a central African city.

And he was right. Imagine how large these plants can grow in the warm, moist climate they prefer. I knew that, according to Bulliard, the Lycopodon giganteum can reach eight or nine feet around. But here were pale mushrooms, thirty to forty feet tall, with caps just as wide. They stood there by the thousands. No light could pass between their huge cones, and complete darkness lay beneath these giants. They formed clusters of domes, packed close together like the round, thatched roofs of a central African city.

Yet I wanted to penetrate farther underneath, though a chill fell upon me as soon as I came under those cellular vaults. For half an hour we wandered from side to side in the damp shades, and it was a comfortable and pleasant change to arrive once more upon the sea shore.

Yet I wanted to go farther underground, though I felt a chill as soon as I passed beneath those honeycombed vaults. For half an hour, we wandered back and forth through the damp shadows. It was a comforting and pleasant change to reach the seashore again.

But the subterranean vegetation was not confined to these fungi. Farther on rose groups of tall trees of colourless foliage and easy to recognise. They were lowly shrubs of earth, here attaining gigantic size; lycopodiums, a hundred feet high; the huge sigillaria, found in our coal mines; tree ferns, as tall as our fir-trees in northern latitudes; lepidodendra, with cylindrical forked stems, terminated by long leaves, and bristling with rough hairs like those of the cactus.

But the underground vegetation was not limited to these fungi. Farther on stood groups of tall trees with colorless leaves. They were easy to recognize. These plants were small shrubs on the surface, but here they grew to enormous sizes. There were lycopodiums a hundred feet tall and huge sigillaria, the kind found in our coal mines. Tree ferns stood as tall as fir trees in northern regions. There were also lepidodendra, with cylindrical, forked stems ending in long leaves. They bristled with rough hairs like those of a cactus.

"Wonderful, magnificent, splendid!" cried my uncle. "Here is the entire flora of the second period of the world—the transition period. These, humble garden plants with us, were tall trees in the early ages. Look, Axel, and admire it all. Never had botanist such a feast as this!"

"Wonderful, magnificent, splendid!" cried my uncle. "Here is all the plant life of the world's second period, the transition period. These plants are humble garden plants for us, but in the early ages they were tall trees. Look, Axel, and admire it all. No botanist has ever had such a feast as this!"

"You are right, my uncle. Providence seems to have preserved in this immense conservatory the antediluvian plants which the wisdom of philosophers has so sagaciously put together again."

"You are right, Uncle. Providence seems to have preserved in this vast conservatory the plants that existed before the Flood. Philosophers have so wisely reconstructed those plants."

"It is a conservatory, Axel; but is it not also a menagerie?"

"It's a greenhouse, Axel, but isn't it also a zoo?"

"Surely not a menagerie!"

"Surely not a zoo!"

"Yes; no doubt of it. Look at that dust under your feet; see the bones scattered on the ground."

"Yes, there's no doubt about it. Look at the dust under your feet. See the bones scattered on the ground."

"So there are!" I cried; "bones of extinct animals."

“There are!” I cried. “Bones of extinct animals.”

I had rushed upon these remains, formed of indestructible phosphates of lime, and without hesitation I named these monstrous bones, which lay scattered about like decayed trunks of trees.

I rushed to the remains, which were made of indestructible calcium phosphates. Without hesitation, I identified the enormous bones scattered around like rotting tree trunks.

"Here is the lower jaw of a mastodon,"¹¹ I said. "These are the molar teeth of the deinotherium; this femur must have belonged to the greatest of those beasts, the megatherium. It certainly is a menagerie, for these remains were not brought here by a deluge. The animals to which they belonged roamed on the shores of this subterranean sea, under the shade of those arborescent trees. Here are entire skeletons. And yet I cannot understand the appearance of these quadrupeds in a granite cavern."

"Here is the lower jaw of a mastodon,"¹¹ I said. "These are the molar teeth of a deinotherium. This thigh bone must have belonged to the greatest of those beasts, the megatherium. This certainly is a menagerie, because the remains were not brought here by a flood. These animals roamed the shores of this underground sea, in the shade of those treelike plants. Here are complete skeletons. And yet I cannot understand how these four-legged animals came to be in a granite cavern."

"Why?"

"Why?"

"Because animal life existed upon the earth only in the secondary period, when a sediment of soil had been deposited by the rivers, and taken the place of the incandescent rocks of the primitive period."

"Because animal life existed on earth only in the secondary period, after rivers had deposited soil over the glowing rocks of the primitive period."

"Well, Axel, there is a very simple answer to your objection that this soil is alluvial."

"Well, Axel, there's a very simple answer to your objection that this soil was deposited by water."

"What! at such a depth below the surface of the earth?"

“What! That far below the earth’s surface?”

"No doubt; and there is a geological explanation of the fact. At a certain period the earth consisted only of an elastic crust or bark, alternately acted on by forces from above or below, according to the laws of attraction and gravitation. Probably there were subsidences of the outer crust, when a portion of the sedimentary deposits was carried down sudden openings."

“No doubt, and there is a geological explanation for it. At one time, the earth consisted only of a flexible crust. Forces acted on it alternately from above and below, according to the laws of attraction and gravity. The outer crust probably sank in places, carrying some sedimentary deposits down through sudden openings.”

"That may be," I replied; "but if there have been creatures now extinct in these underground regions, why may not some of those monsters be now roaming through these gloomy forests, or hidden behind the steep crags?"

"That may be," I replied. "But if creatures that are now extinct once lived underground, why couldn't some of those monsters still be roaming these dark forests or hiding behind the steep cliffs?"

And as this unpleasant notion got hold of me, I surveyed with anxious scrutiny the open spaces before me; but no living creature appeared upon the barren strand.

As this unpleasant thought took hold of me, I anxiously searched the open spaces ahead. But no living creature appeared on the barren shore.

I felt rather tired, and went to sit down at the end of a promontory, at the foot of which the waves came and beat themselves into spray. Thence my eye could sweep every part of the bay; within its extremity a little harbour was formed between the pyramidal cliffs, where the still waters slept untouched by the boisterous winds. A brig and two or three schooners might have moored within it in safety. I almost fancied I should presently see some ship issue from it, full sail, and take to the open sea under the southern breeze.

I felt rather tired and sat down at the end of a promontory. Below me, waves broke into spray. From there, I could see the whole bay. At its far end, a small harbor lay between the pyramid-shaped cliffs. Its waters were still, sheltered from the rough winds. A brig and two or three schooners could have anchored there safely. I could almost imagine a ship sailing out at any moment, its sails full, heading into the open sea on the southerly breeze.

But this illusion lasted a very short time. We were the only living creatures in this subterranean world. When the wind lulled, a deeper silence than that of the deserts fell upon the arid, naked rocks, and weighed upon the surface of the ocean. I then desired to pierce the distant haze, and to rend asunder the mysterious curtain that hung across the horizon. Anxious queries arose to my lips. Where did that sea terminate? Where did it lead to? Should we ever know anything about its opposite shores?

But the illusion lasted only a short time. We were the only living creatures in this underground world. When the wind died down, a silence deeper than that of the deserts fell over the dry, bare rocks. It weighed on the surface of the ocean. I longed to see through the distant haze and tear apart the mysterious curtain hanging across the horizon. Anxious questions rose to my lips. Where did that sea end? Where did it lead? Would we ever learn anything about its opposite shores?

My uncle made no doubt about it at all; I both desired and feared.

My uncle had no doubt about it at all. I both wanted and feared it.

After spending an hour in the contemplation of this marvellous spectacle, we returned to the shore to regain the grotto, and I fell asleep in the midst of the strangest thoughts.

After spending an hour watching this marvelous sight, we returned to the shore and went back to the grotto. I fell asleep with the strangest thoughts on my mind.