Hverfjall

Hverfjall

The Hverfjall crater from the south
Highest point
Elevation 420 m (1,380 ft)
Coordinates 65°36′00″N 16°53′00″W / 65.60000°N 16.88333°W / 65.60000; -16.88333Coordinates: 65°36′00″N 16°53′00″W / 65.60000°N 16.88333°W / 65.60000; -16.88333
Geography
Location Iceland
Geology
Mountain type Tephra cone, tuff ring volcano
Last eruption 2500 BP

Hverfjall (also known as Hverfell) 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 Lake Myvatn 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 Svortuborgir, at the southern end of Namafjall, around Hverfjall, which was nearly engulfed by the lava. At the same time an eruption occurred in the slopes above the valley of Hlidardalur.

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.

References

Inner rim of Hverfjall.
  1. The Hverfjall fissure eruption Accessed 29 October 2008
  2. Rough Guide on Hverfjall Accessed 29 October 2008

External links

Media related to Hverfjall at Wikimedia Commons

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