Iceland, the land of ice and fire, is a natural paradise. The frigid power of the glaciers and the Arctic climate clash with the earth's explosive heat. The result is a world of dramatic contrasts within the unparalleled beauty of the stark landscape. Without Iceland's volcanoes , none of this would be possible. The power of Iceland's volcanoes defines the nature of this land better than any other volcanic activity, creating endless moss-covered lava fields, vast plains of black sand, and craggy mountain peaks and enormous craters.
Therefore, we are going to dedicate this article to telling you everything you need to know about the volcanoes in Iceland: their characteristics, eruptions , and their importance.
Volcanoes in Iceland
Volcanic forces beneath the surface have also created some of the country's most popular wonders, such as natural hot springs and explosive geysers . Furthermore, the effects of past eruptions can be seen in the cliffs formed by winding lava caves and hexagonal basalt pillars.
Thousands of people flocked to Iceland to see its volcanoes and the wonders they created and continue to create. During a volcanic eruption, we should be even more eager for the chance to witness one of Earth's most spectacular and wondrous phenomena. Given their importance to Iceland's natural environment, its industries, and even the country itself, we have compiled this authoritative guide to Iceland's volcanoes, hoping it will answer any questions you might have about their power.
How many there are?
In Iceland, there are approximately 130 active and dormant volcanoes. There are around 30 active volcanic systems beneath the island , excluding the Westfjords, scattered throughout the country.
The reason the Westfjords are no longer volcanically active is that they are the oldest part of the Icelandic mainland, having formed around 16 million years ago and since then having receded from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Therefore, the Westfjords are the only area in the country that requires electricity to heat water instead of geothermal water.
Volcanic activity in Iceland is due to the country's location directly on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which separates the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Iceland is one of the few places in the world where this ridge is visible above sea level. These tectonic plates are divergent, meaning they are moving apart. As they do, magma in the mantle rises to fill the gap and erupts. This phenomenon occurs along mountain ranges and can be observed on other volcanic islands, such as the Azores and Saint Helena.
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge runs through Iceland; in fact, most of the island lies on the North American continent. There are many places in Iceland where you can see partial ridges, including the Reykjanes Peninsula and the Mývatn region, but the best is Thingvellir. There, you can walk through the valleys between the tectonic plates and clearly observe the walls of the two continents on either side of the national park. Due to the divergence between the plates, this valley expands by about 2,5 cm every year.
Frequency of eruptions
Volcanic eruptions in Iceland are unpredictable, but they occur with relative regularity. There hasn't been a decade since the early 19th century without eruptions, although the likelihood of them occurring rapidly or more widely is quite random.
The last known eruption in Iceland occurred at Holuhraun in the Highlands in 2014. GrĂmsfjall also recorded a brief eruption in 2011, while the more famous Eyjafjallajökull volcano caused serious problems in 2010. The reason the term 'known' is used It is due to the suspicion that there have been multiple subglacial volcanic eruptions in different parts of the country that have not broken the ice sheet, including Katla in 2017 and Hamelin in 2011.
Currently, the threat to human life during a volcanic eruption in Iceland is very small . The seismic stations scattered throughout the country are very good at predicting them. If major volcanoes like Katla or Askja show signs of rumbling, access to the area will be restricted and the area will be closely monitored.
Thanks to the foresight of the early settlers, the most active volcano is located far from the most populated areas. For example, there are few cities on Iceland's south coast because volcanoes like Katla and Eyjafjallajökull are located in the north. Because these peaks are situated beneath glaciers, their eruptions would trigger massive glacial floods, which could sweep everything in their path toward the ocean.
This is what makes most of the South look like a black sand desert. In fact, it is a plain made up of glacial deposits.
Danger of volcanoes in Iceland
Due to their unpredictability, these glacial floods, known as jökulhlaups, or Spanish in Icelandic, remain one of the most dangerous aspects of Icelandic volcanic activity. As mentioned above, eruptions under the ice are not always detected, so these flash floods can occur without warning.
Of course, science is constantly advancing, and now, as long as there is even the slightest doubt that hail may occur, an area can be evacuated and monitored. Therefore, for obvious reasons, it is forbidden to drive on restricted roads, even in summer or when there appears to be no danger.
Although most volcanoes are far from densely populated centers, accidents always happen. In such cases, however, Iceland's emergency measures have proven tremendously effective, as was seen in the 1973 eruption at Heimaey in the Vestman Islands.
Hemai is the only inhabited island in the Westman Islands, a volcanic archipelago. When the volcano erupted, 5.200 people lived there. In the early hours of January 22, a fissure began to open on the outskirts of the town and snaked through the town center, destroying roads and engulfing hundreds of buildings in lava.
Although it happened late at night and in the middle of winter, the evacuation of the island was carried out quickly and efficiently. Once the residents landed safely, rescue teams worked with U.S. troops stationed there to minimize damage.
By constantly pumping seawater into the lava flow, they not only managed to redirect it away from many houses, but also prevented it from clogging the harbor, ending the island's economy forever.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the volcanoes in Iceland and their characteristics.
