Öræfajökull
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Öræfajökull | |
|---|---|
 Hvannadalshnúkur, the highest peak of Öræfajökull |
|
| Elevation | 2,109.6 metres (6,921 ft) |
| Location | Iceland |
| Range | Mid-Atlantic Ridge |
| Prominence | 2,109.6 metres (6,921 ft) |
| Coordinates | |
| Type | Stratovolcano |
| Last eruption | 1727 |
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 Skaftafell 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 was smaller, though floods are known to have caused three fatalities.
[edit] See also
- Geography of Iceland
- Glaciers of Iceland
- Iceland plume
- Lakes of Iceland
- List of islands off Iceland
- List of volcanoes in Iceland
- Rivers of Iceland
- Volcanoes of Iceland
- Waterfalls of Iceland
[edit] External links
- Volcano Images of Europe
- Photos of Öræfajökull www.Icelandportfolio.com
- Öræfajökull - picture gallery www.islandsmyndir.is
