Öræfajökull
Encyclopedia
Öræfajökull is an ice-covered volcano
in south-east Iceland
. It is the largest active volcano in the country, and on its north-western rim is Hvannadalshnúkur
, the highest peak in Iceland. Geographically Öræfajökull is considered part of the Vatnajökull
glacier, and the area covered by glacier is inside the bounds of Vatnajökull National Park
.
Öræfajökull has erupted twice in historical time. In 1362 the volcano erupted explosively, with huge amounts of tephra
being ejected. The district of Litla-Hérað was destroyed with floods and tephra fall. More than 40 years passed before people again settled the area, which became known as Öræfi. The name literally means an area without harbour, but it took on a meaning of wasteland in Icelandic
.
An eruption in August 1727 to 1728 was smaller, though floods are known to have caused three fatalities.
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
in south-east Iceland
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 is the largest active volcano in the country, and on its north-western rim is Hvannadalshnúkur
Hvannadalshnúkur
Hvannadalshnúkur or Hvannadalshnjúkur is a peak in the north-western rim of the Öræfajökull volcano in Iceland and the highest point of the island. An official measurement completed in August 2005 established its height as ....
, the highest peak in Iceland. Geographically Öræfajökull is considered part of the Vatnajökull
Vatnajökull
Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in Iceland. It is located in the south-east of the island, covering more than 8% of the country.-Size:With an area of 8,100 km², Vatnajökull is the largest ice cap in Europe by volume and the second largest in area Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in...
glacier, and the area covered by glacier is inside the bounds of Vatnajökull National Park
Vatnajökull National Park
Vatnajökull National Park in Iceland was founded on June 7, 2008. It is the largest national park in Europe, covering around 12,000 km² , including all of Vatnajökull glacier, and the former Skaftafell National Park, Jökulsárgljúfur National Park and surrounding area.The construction of four new...
.
Öræfajökull has erupted twice in historical time. In 1362 the volcano erupted explosively, with huge amounts of tephra
Tephra
200px|thumb|right|Tephra horizons in south-central [[Iceland]]. The thick and light coloured layer at center of the photo is [[rhyolitic]] tephra from [[Hekla]]....
being ejected. The district of Litla-Hérað was destroyed with floods and tephra fall. More than 40 years passed before people again settled the area, which became known as Öræfi. The name literally means an area without harbour, but it took on a meaning of wasteland in Icelandic
Icelandic language
Icelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the...
.
An eruption in August 1727 to 1728 was smaller, though floods are known to have caused three fatalities.
See also
- Geography of IcelandGeography of IcelandIceland is a medium-sized island in the North Atlantic ocean. The island is located east of Greenland and immediately south of the Arctic Circle, atop the divergent boundary of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the North Atlantic Ocean. It lies about from New York City and from Scotland...
- Glaciers of IcelandGlaciers of IcelandThe glaciers and ice caps of Iceland cover 11.1% of the land area of the country and have a considerable impact on its landscape and meteorology...
- Iceland plumeIceland plumeThe Iceland Plume is a postulated upwelling of anomalously hot rock in the Earth's mantle beneath Iceland. Its origin is thought to lie deep in the mantle, perhaps at the boundary between the core and the mantle at ca. 2880 km depth. Opinions differ as to whether seismic studies have imaged...
- Lakes of Iceland
- List of islands of Iceland
- List of volcanoes in Iceland
- Rivers of Iceland
- Volcanism in Iceland
- Waterfalls of IcelandWaterfalls of IcelandIceland is unusually suited for waterfalls. This small island country has a north Atlantic climate that produces frequent rain or snow and a near-Arctic location that produces large glaciers, whose summer melts feed many rivers...
External links
- Volcano Images of Europe
- Photos of Öræfajökull www.Icelandportfolio.com
- Öræfajökull – picture gallery www.islandsmyndir.is
- http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1704-01=