Esjufjöll
Esjufjöll north of Jökulsárlón as nunataks of Vatnajökull glacier
Highest point
Elevation1,760 m (5,770 ft)
Coordinates64°16′N 16°39′W / 64.27°N 16.65°W / 64.27; -16.65
Geography
LocationIceland, East Iceland
Geology
Age of rockHolocene
Mountain typeStratovolcano
Last eruption1927?

The subglacial Esjufjöll (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈɛːsjʏˌfjœtl̥] ⓘ) volcano is located at the SE part of the Vatnajökull icecap. Esjufjöll is a strict nature reserve (IUCN category Ia).[1]

Geography

The mountains, actually nunataks within Vatnajökull, are located to the north of Öræfajökull volcano and of Jökulsárlón glacial lake.[2] The mountain range consists of 4 mountain massifs with three valleys in between them.[3]

The glaciers flowing around them are feeding Breiðamerkurjökull and in the end Jökulsárlón.[3]

Volcanism

Esjufjöll are a small volcanic system and as such part of Iceland's Oræfi Volcanic Belt.[4] Also part of this zone are Öræfajökull and Snæfell (north of Vatnajökull).[5]

The volcanic system consists of the Snaehetta central volcano with a large caldera. Most of the volcano, including the 40 km2 caldera, is covered by the icecap. On the other hand are parts of the SE flank exposed in NW-SE-trending ridges.[6] Most of the exposed rocks are mildly alkaline basalts, but one may also find small amounts of rhyolitic rocks.[6]

In the beginning of September 1927, a jökulhlaup came down the Jökulsá á Breiðamerkursandi. The glacier run was accompanied by a sulfur stench. On one occasion, ash fall on the Breiðamerkurjökull was thought to have possibly originated from Esjufjöll.[6] Although Holocene eruptions have not been confirmed from Esjufjöll, earthquake swarms that could indicate magma movements were detected in October 2002, and recently in October 2010.[6]

Mountaineering

Ari Trausti Guðmundsson proposes a mountaineering tour crossing Breiðamerkurjökull and up on Lyngbrekkutindur.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Stjórnunar- og verndaráætlun Vatnajökulsþjóðgarðs, 2. útgáfa, 2013. p. 12.
  2. ↑ Ísland Vegaatlas. Reykajvík (Ferðakort) 2006, p.7
  3. 1 2 3 Ari Trausti Guðmundsson, Pétur Þorsteinsson: Íslensk fjöll. Gönguleiðir á 151 tind. Reykjavík 2004, p. 200.
  4. ↑ T. Thordarson, G. Larsen:Volcanism in Iceland in historical time. Volcano types, eruption types and eruption history. (2007)
  5. ↑ See eg.: Thor Thordarson, Armann Hoskuldsson: Classic geology in Europe 3. Iceland. Harpenden 2002, p. 14
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Esjufjöll". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution.
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