Jolnir
Encyclopedia
Jólnir was formerly a volcanic island south of Iceland
. It was a vent of Surtsey
, along with Syrtlingur and Surtla. It emerged from the ocean as a result of tectonic
activity in July, 1966. Oceanic erosion
cyclically wore down the new land as it formed, and the island sank below the surface several times.
It was named for Jólnir, a Norse god
(usually identified as a second name for Odin
).
Jolnir's formation is closely linked to that of neighboring volcanic island, Surtsey
, which emerged in 1963. Volcanic eruptions occurred in much of the surrounding water, but newly formed land was subject to oceanic erosion
and many small islands washed away. By 1966, Jólnir had broken the surface, and changing composition of the emerging material resulted in hardier rock forms resistant to erosion. The volcanic cone reached 70 meters above sea level, but even this landmass eventually gave way to the eroding ocean waves.
After activity ceased on 8 August 1966, it was rapidly eroded, and disappeared below the sea during October 1966.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. It was a vent of Surtsey
Surtsey
Surtsey is a volcanic island off the southern coast of Iceland. At it is also the southernmost point of Iceland. It was formed in a volcanic eruption which began 130 metres below sea level, and reached the surface on 15 November 1963. The eruption lasted until 5 June 1967, when the island...
, along with Syrtlingur and Surtla. It emerged from the ocean as a result of tectonic
Plate tectonics
Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere...
activity in July, 1966. Oceanic erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
cyclically wore down the new land as it formed, and the island sank below the surface several times.
It was named for Jólnir, a Norse god
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
(usually identified as a second name for Odin
Odin
Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
).
Jolnir's formation is closely linked to that of neighboring volcanic island, Surtsey
Surtsey
Surtsey is a volcanic island off the southern coast of Iceland. At it is also the southernmost point of Iceland. It was formed in a volcanic eruption which began 130 metres below sea level, and reached the surface on 15 November 1963. The eruption lasted until 5 June 1967, when the island...
, which emerged in 1963. Volcanic eruptions occurred in much of the surrounding water, but newly formed land was subject to oceanic erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
and many small islands washed away. By 1966, Jólnir had broken the surface, and changing composition of the emerging material resulted in hardier rock forms resistant to erosion. The volcanic cone reached 70 meters above sea level, but even this landmass eventually gave way to the eroding ocean waves.
After activity ceased on 8 August 1966, it was rapidly eroded, and disappeared below the sea during October 1966.
External links
- Photograph and brief description from United States Armed Forces newspaper Stars and StripesStars and Stripes (newspaper)Stars and Stripes is a news source that operates from inside the United States Department of Defense but is editorially separate from it. The First Amendment protection which Stars and Stripes enjoys is safeguarded by Congress to whom an independent ombudsman, who serves the readers' interests,...
. - Another photograph of Jolnir in 1966
- University of North Dakota page about SurtseySurtseySurtsey is a volcanic island off the southern coast of Iceland. At it is also the southernmost point of Iceland. It was formed in a volcanic eruption which began 130 metres below sea level, and reached the surface on 15 November 1963. The eruption lasted until 5 June 1967, when the island...
and Jolnir - Brief description from Dartmouth, at the bottom.
