Hverfjall Explained

Hverfjall
Elevation M:420
Location:Iceland
Coordinates:65.6°N -16.8833°W
Type:Tephra cone, tuff ring volcano
Last Eruption:2500 BP

Hverfjall (pronounced as /is/; also known as Hverfell in Icelandic pronounced as /ˈkʰvɛrˌfɛtl̥/) is a tephra cone or tuff ring volcano in northern Iceland, to the east of Mývatn.

It erupted in 2500 BP in the southern part of the Krafla fissure swarm.[1] The crater is approximately 1 km in diameter.[2]

Tephra has been carried from Hverfjall all over the Mývatn area. A landslide apparently occurred in the south part of the crater during the eruption, which accounts for the disruption to the round shape of the mountain. During the Age of Settlement, lava flowed from Svörtuborgir in Icelandic pronounced as /ˈsvœr̥tʏˌpɔrcɪr̥/, at the southern end of Námafjall in Icelandic pronounced as /ˈnauːmaˌfjatl̥/, around Hverfjall, which was nearly engulfed by the lava. At the same time an eruption occurred in the slopes above the valley of Hlíðardalur in Icelandic pronounced as /ˈl̥iːðarˌtaːlʏr̥/.

The rim of the crater is only accessible by two paths, from the northwest and south. It is strictly forbidden to use other routes in ascent or descent.

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.theochem.org/Raunvisindathing06/utdraettir/hbm-en.pdf The Hverfjall fissure eruption
  2. http://www.roughguides.co.uk/website/travel/Destination/content/default.aspx?titleid=134&xid=idh543585928_0273 Rough Guide on Hverfjall