The name of an Icelandic volcano. Iceland's famous volcanoes
Eyjafjallajökull is a volcano in Iceland, located under the glacier of the same name, the name of which is able to pronounce only 0.005 percent of the world's population. In 2010, a small northern country Iceland decided to remind the Europeans of its existence. And she did it in such a way that the message could not be ignored.
Excessive activity of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano and a powerful release of ash into the atmosphere led to the cancellation of several tens of thousands of flights. This eruption can rightfully be considered one of the most remarkable events of the past year.
For two hundred years now, Eyjafjallajökull has been considered sound asleep. Its previous eruption was recorded between 1821 and 1823. - in two years, the volcano caused enormous damage to the surrounding area. However, Icelanders are accustomed to such disasters. The island has several active volcanoes, which periodically remind of their existence. So the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull did not panic local population, on the contrary, provoked a real tourist boom. People from all over the world came to admire the impressive spectacle.
In fact, the volcano that attracted so much attention from tourists to Iceland did not even have its own name. Previously, the Eyjafjallajökull glacier was known, located 125 km from Reykjavik and hiding a conical volcano underneath. For simplicity, it began to be called by the same name. Eyyafyadlayokyudl in translation into Russian means literally "glacier of the island mountains." The height of the peak is 1666 meters, and the diameter of the crater, which has been hiding under the ice for many years, is 4 km.
Naturally, scientists were monitoring Eyjafjallajökull, but could not predict the full scale of the upcoming eruption. Much more attention of scientists has always attracted a volcano located 12 km to the east - Katla. In the 20th century, he was noted for his special activity. Consequently, it was popular with tourists visiting the island.
All types of travel are available to lovers of the exotic in Iceland: auto, walking, as well as helicopter tours by air. Only from above can one fully appreciate the power of volcanoes. In addition to evidence of the fiery breath of the Earth, Iceland is famous for its rivers, waterfalls and geysers. Getting to know them is a must. tourist program. At the foot of the Eyjafjallajökull glacier is the village of Skogar and the most visited waterfall in the country, Skogafoss on the Skougau River. Famous tourist routes pass by it, leading to the Fimmvurduhauls pass between the Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull glaciers.
Photo of Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland.
In the spring of 2010, the whole world watched the strongest eruption Icelandic volcano with unusual and fabulous name Eyyafyatlayokudl. It has become one of the most powerful in the modern history of mankind, scientists are still discussing the consequences of this natural phenomenon.
Iceland
This Island state often call ice kingdom, it is located between Greenland and Norway in the immediate vicinity of the Arctic Circle. The main part of Iceland is located on a volcanic plateau, so earthquakes and eruptions are common here. Despite geographical position, the climate in the region is by no means arctic, but moderately cool, with strong winds and high humidity.
Despite the harsh nature, very positive and friendly people live here. Icelandic hospitality is known all over the world. Every year, thousands of tourists come to these harsh lands to get acquainted with unique nature and, of course, see the most famous volcano in Iceland - Eyjafjallajokull. After 2010, the flow of those wishing to observe this wonder of the world with their own eyes has increased markedly.
Historical reference
Iceland is located at the junction of two continental plates, the Eurasian and North American, and is considered the country with the most big amount geothermal sources, lava fields, ice and volcanoes. There are more than a hundred of them, and twenty-five are active. Tourists have the most popular volcanoes- Lucky and Hekla, they have almost a hundred craters and are a unique sight.
But in 2010, the whole world learned about another attraction of Iceland - the Eyjafjallajokull volcano. Photos of lava erupting from under the glacier spread all over the world news feeds, perhaps this event did not have such popularity in the media mass media, were it not for the problems with air travel that have arisen in most of Europe.
Eyyafyatlayokudl belongs to the stratovolcanoes, the cone of which is formed by layers of hardened lava and rock left there after numerous eruptions. Officially, this is not a volcano, but a glacier, the sixth largest on the island, it is located 125 kilometers from the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik. The height of the peak is 1666 m, the area of the volcanic crater is 3-4 km, until 2010 it was hidden under a thick layer of ice. The previous eruption of the Eyjafyatlayokudl volcano took place from 1821 to 1823, and for two hundred years it was considered dormant.
Preceding circumstances
Almost a year before the main events, the glacier was already showing signs of high activity. In 2009, at a depth of seven kilometers, scientists noticed seismological shocks of 1-2 points. They continued for several months, and even a shift of the cortex by 3 cm was recorded.
The activity of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano worried the authorities of the region, they took the necessary measures to resettle local residents, and the nearest airport was also closed. First of all, people were afraid of flooding, since the glacier could begin to melt under the influence of the earth's heat.
Scientists have long observed activity in this area, so the victims were avoided. In total, more than 800 people left the disaster zone. After the research, the possibility of flooding was ruled out and some residents returned to their homes.
Chronicle of events
On March 20, 2010, the Eyyafyatlayokudl volcano erupted late in the evening. From the fault that appeared in the glacier, smoke and ash poured out, the first emissions were small and did not reach a height of more than one kilometer. After five days, the activity dropped significantly. The reason was that melted water poured into the vent and partially extinguished the hearth.
But on March 31, a new crack formed, and for several days lava flowed abundantly from two holes at once. As it turned out, this was just the beginning. On April 13, the Icelandic volcano Eyjafyatlayokudl once again shook from tremors, as a result of which a new crack appeared at a distance of 2 km, and a column of smoke rose to a height of eight kilometers. On April 15 and 16, this figure was already 15 km, and volcanic ash reached the stratosphere, from where substances are already spreading over long distances.
Shutdown of flights in Europe
The Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull will go down in history in the 21st century thanks to the large-scale consequences of its eruption. Due to his activity, air traffic was suspended in dozens of countries. Companies suffered losses, thousands of passengers huddled in airport terminals and in the homes of caring people.
The events in Iceland big influence to review certain laws and regulations governing air travel in similar situations. Many companies said that the computer program that calculates the risks from flying in the ash spread zone is questionable, and they also blamed the heads European countries in deliberately inflating the problem and helplessness in making important decisions.
Consequences
In addition to economic damage, Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano caused serious damage environment. In the first three days, about 140 million cubic meters of dust were released into the atmosphere. During the eruption, together with particles of earth rocks, ash, a huge amount of suspended particles or aerosols are thrown into the air. The danger of such a substance is that it quickly spreads over a long distance and has a detrimental effect on the composition of the atmosphere, absorbing part of the solar radiation.
Although geophysicists and meteorologists did not support the general panic that flared up on the pages of some newspapers. According to scientists, the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull was not so powerful that emissions could somehow cause climate change, at most - affect the weather. So, long and thick clouds were observed many thousands of kilometers from the island, even in Russia.
Ash spread
The course of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano eruption was recorded from space, and daily meteorological services made a forecast of the movement of the dust cloud. In mid-April 2010, ash covered more than half of Europe and some regions of Russia. Officially Rosgidromettsentr did not confirm the assumption that particles of dust and volcanic matter reached the territory of our country. True, eyewitnesses claim that the ashes could be easily detected using a sheet of paper placed on the windowsill.
The ejected dust was a fine-grained flying tephra, part of which settled near the vent and on the glacier, but the main mass rose into the air. However, experts assured the public that the gases released into the atmosphere do not pose a serious threat to humans.
Only almost a month after the start of the events, the media of all countries reported that the Eyyafyatlayokudl volcano had finally ceased its activity. The eruption of 2010 was remembered primarily not for its uniqueness, because this happens all the time on earth, but for the increased attention to this event in the news and newspapers.
The Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland, whose photo appeared on the covers of many publications seven years ago, has a special history. Such a complex name comes from the combination of three words at once, denoting a mountain, a glacier and an island. And in fact, the name belongs to the glacier, under which there was a volcano for a long time. In connection with the events of 2010, linguists became interested in the origin and meaning of the toponym different countries trying to determine the exact meaning of the word.
After the hype around the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in scientific world talking about another possible problem that could lead to far greater consequences. We are talking about Mount Katla, which is located just 12 km from the epicenter of the underground explosion in 2010. Research by geophysicists confirms that each previous activity of Eyyafyatlayokudl preceded the eruption of the much more powerful and destructive Katla volcano. Therefore, scientists have suggested that the events of seven years ago may be the beginning of a more grandiose catastrophe in the future.
There are many more places in this region where nature can surprise you. So, a few hundred kilometers away is the only active volcano in Norway. Eyyafyatlayokudl and Berenberg (translated - “ Bear mountain”) are similar in structure and physical data. Most northern volcano in the world, too, for a long time considered extinct, but in 1985 a strong eruption was recorded.
Reflection in culture
Today, the story of seven years ago on the distant island of Iceland is somewhat forgotten, but at the same time this event made a strong impression on many, because not every day in live you can see how a real volcano erupts. Society reacted differently to the event. Videos appeared on the Internet in which people tried to pronounce an unusual name, and the people composed jokes on this topic.
National Geographic Channel filmed documentary, which tells about the events of the spring of 2010, and the plots of some feature films are connected with the Icelandic volcano, for example, the French film "Volcano of Passion" and some episodes of the American film "The Walter Mitty Story".
Perhaps the sweetest note in the craze for the Icelandic natural phenomenon was made by a native of this country, singer Elisa Geirsdottir Newman. She composed a provocative song about Eyjafyatlayokudl, which helps to learn how to pronounce the exotic name correctly.
Even brave travelers who have seen a lot have something to be surprised at in a small but beautiful Iceland! This the only island, located in the ocean on a volcanic mountain range, where the forces of nature so expressively manifest themselves!
Unexpectedly bursting into human life, volcanoes bring death to all living things, huge destruction and fires. Many people remember the case with the famous Icelandic Eyjafjallajökull, when the activity of the volcano caused the cancellation and delay of flights. It seems that a person has nothing to love volcanoes for. But every year the number of those who climb to the top of an active or dormant volcano increases - The best way have fun and relax during a tourist trip.
More than 140 different volcanoes (shield, crater series, stratovolcanoes, subglacial, underwater, mud volcanoes, etc.) have been identified in Iceland, of which 26 are active. The main part of the volcanoes is located in the middle of the country in a strip stretching from the southwest to the northeast. Powerful fissure eruptions are the most common. There are flat shield volcanoes. For example, Kollota dingya, trella dingya, formed by lava sheets with cinder cones on the surface and voids inside. At the top is a large round crater with steep walls.
About 30 km from Reykjavik, there is a volcano on the territory of the Blaufell nature reserve. Trihnukayigur – Three Peaks(Thrihnukagigur). He became popular interesting place For hiking trips, since it is a dormant and safe volcano, allowing you to travel inward and conduct research there.
Typically, during a volcanic eruption, the magma chamber fills with lava, which then cools and hardens, blocking the entrance. But there are suggestions that in Trihnyukaigyur, lava flowed back into the bowels of the earth. The magma chamber remained intact, and the volcano became unique place for excursions.
Arnie B. Stefansson, a great cave enthusiast from Reykjavik, proposed to open the volcano for visitors. He has been studying Iceland since 1954 and was the first to descend into the crater in 1974.
Three Peaks Volcano does not fall into the category of strong volcanic eruptions. Last time he was active about 4000 years ago. After that, there was an entrance 4 x 4 m in diameter, going to the volcanic storage, shaped like a bottle. Icelandic experienced tour operator and instructor ensures the safety of visitors during the exploration ancient volcano from within.
A special elevator, accommodating 5-6 people, in an open platform-basket will lower those who wish to visit the crater mouth down the steel cables. The descent to a depth of 120 meters takes about eight minutes. Inside the volcano, visitors will stay for about an hour, seeing the beautiful shades of the rock surface and appreciating the size of the interior space.
Most recently, the crater was visited by scientists studying underground depths. A year after that, excursions became available for everyone. Experts assure that the exotic walk does not pose a threat to human life.
The tour is open only in summer, average temperature it is always 6 C in the crater. Tourists are advised to buy warm clothes and special trekking shoes, take a camera and water with them.
Eyyafjallajokull(which means "island, mountain, glacier") - a glacier located 125 km from Reykjavik. Below it is a conical volcano with the same name. Glacier area up to 100 sq. km, peak height - 1666 m. Until 2010, the volcanic crater with a diameter of 3-4 km was covered with glaciers. The volcano belongs to the thyroid.
Near the southern end of the glacier is the nearest village of Skogar. The Skougau River begins here, on which the Skogafoss waterfall forms.
Recently, the unpronounceable name of the volcano has become a household name. Eyyafjallajokull, before it disrupted air traffic in 2010, did not stand out among other fire-breathing peaks of Iceland with something special and was known to a narrow circle of volcanologists. But for the state, which had a hard time surviving the crisis in the economy, the unexpected glory of the volcano turned out to be the way. Since December 2010, excursions in small groups have been allowed to Eyjafjallajokull.
For about two hundred years, the volcano was considered dormant. The eruption, which lasted almost a year, occurred in 1821-22, which caused the glacier to melt. The last eruption began in March 2010 with the formation of a 500-meter fault with a small emission of ash. The intensification of the eruption and the release of a large volume of volcanic ash continued in mid-April 2010. This led to the closure of some of the European airspace for several days.
When choosing a tour, keep in mind that best time to visit from May to September. Many travel agencies are limited to excursions only to the foot of the volcano in jeeps. Only a few organize a classic walking ascent to the top.
Eyyafyadlayekudl is located 12 km from the ice volcano Katla, which is more active. In the past, Eyjafjallajökull erupted before the Katla eruption. Icelandic geophysicists have an assumption that the 2010 eruption could be the trigger for the Katla eruption.
Due to the volcanic eruption in spring 2011 Grimsvotn located nearby, climbs to Eyjafjallajokull were temporarily suspended. At this time, the situation remains calm, true lovers of extreme hiking can enjoy the ascent.
In the south of Iceland, in the region of Nordurland-Eistra, there is a subglacial volcano. Baurdarbunga. It includes volcanic faults, stratovolcanoes, craters, volcanic ridges. major eruption occurred in 1477, the last was observed in 1910. A new eruption of Bardarbunga began in August 2014.
Height - 2009 meters, an under-ice stratovolcano, located in a caldera 700 meters deep. Volcanic faults coming from Bardarbunga are connected with Torvajokull and Askja volcanoes. Around the volcano settlements absent, in summer these places are visited by hunters and tourists.
The volcano was named after an Old Norse settler. Literally, it translates as "Baurdur's dome" or "Baurdur's plateau". Since 2007, there has been an increase in activity.
In the summer of 2014, studies showed the movement of magma in the volcano's chamber. In August, a series of tremors was noted. At the same time, the Icelandic authorities announced the danger code “yellow” for airlines flying over the island, several roads were also blocked, since after the eruption a cloud of volcanic ash could form and flooding occurred. The movement of magma 3-7 km below the surface created a high probability of a breakthrough of magma in the near future.
People were urgently evacuated from the area of the volcano (including 200 tourists from houses in Vatnajökull National Park). On August 20, the volcano erupted. Service civil aviation, declaring the danger code "red", banned all flights in this area. Magma came to the surface on August 29 from a fault outside the glacier. There was no significant emission of ash into the atmosphere. On the morning of August 31, the eruption continued.
In autumn 2014, seismic activity in the area of the volcano remained high, earthquakes were recorded.
An active stratovolcano is located in the center of the Icelandic plateau. Askya. The height is 1510 meters. As a result of volcanic activity, geological mountains formed around Askya. The last eruption was in 1961.
When the volcano erupted in March 1875, a 45 sq. km appeared two big lakes A. The deepest lake in Iceland Escuwatn occupies an area of 11 sq. km and has a depth of 220 m. Immediately after its appearance, it was warm, now it is more covered with ice. During the eruption in 1926, a small island was formed in the southern part of the lake.
close north coast Lake Eskjuvatn is a geothermal lake Viti. Its diameter is 100 meters, depth is 7 meters. The temperature of the milky-blue water can vary from 20 C to 27 C. Near the lake, there is a sharp smell of sulfur, which gave the lake its name.
As a result of the crater eruptions, in addition to these two large lakes, there are several smaller ones.
The tourist route to the Askew volcano depends on the location of the starting point: in the north or in the south. You can go on a trip only on a frame car with high or increased off-road cross-country ability.
Not far (8 km) from the caldera of the volcano there is a permanent tourist camp, where you can make a stop for rest. Two houses are intended for tourists. In one there is a shared small kitchen, shower, etc., in the other there are places to sleep.
There is a volcano in the south of the country. Hekla. In the Middle Ages locals it was called the "Gate to Hell". The researchers, studying the deposits of volcanic ash, concluded that the volcano had been active for 6600 years. The last eruption took place in 2011.
In 1104, an eruption was recorded, since that time there have been another 20-30 strong actions. Each volcanic eruption is different from each other, which makes it impossible to predict them. Some are short: 7-10 days, others last for months or even years. A feature was noticed: the longer Hekla sleeps, the more dangerous the eruption will be.
Traces of two eruptions: 950 BC and 1159 BC. e. have been found in Ireland and Scottish peat bogs. The force of the eruptions was enough for the temperature to drop in the northern hemisphere of the Earth for several years.
The word "Hekla" is translated as a short cloak with a hood, this name was given to the volcano because of the constant cloud cover at the top. The area around Hekla used to be covered with trees. Forests and tall plants are less sensitive to ash than low plants, but repeated exposure to the volcano and the effects of human habitation have made the plant surface susceptible to erosion. The state has launched a project to restore the forest, in particular some species of willow and birch, which began on the slopes of Hekla with fertilizing the soil and sowing various herbs. The result of the project should be the stabilization of volcanic ash areas, the reduction of weathering, and the increase in biodiversity.
For inexperienced tourists, tours to the country of centuries-old glaciers and active volcanoes seem uninteresting and unattractive. A cold, stone, ash-ice, harsh land rises before the imagination, in which it is impossible to spend an interesting vacation. It's not like that at all. Russians, choosing a guided tour group or individual tour to Iceland, will return home not only with positive emotions but also good memories!
For many people, the concept of "volcano" is associated with high mountain, from the top of which a fountain of gas, ash and flame bursts into the sky, and the slopes are filled with red-hot lava. Irish volcanoes are not very similar to classical volcanoes. The vast majority of them are not impressive in height. Only a few "stepped over" the mark of 2 km, the rest stay within 1-1.5 km, and many even less. For example, Hverfjadl, Eldfell, Surtsey barely reach a height of several hundred meters, more like ordinary hills. But these seemingly peaceful and safe creations of mother nature in reality can bring trouble no less than the famous Etna or Vesuvius. We invite you to get to know them better, and let's start with their homeland.
harsh island
Nature loves to surprise. For example, she created the island of Iceland by raising part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge above the ocean, and just in the place of a huge tectonic seam. Its one of which is the foundation of Eurasia, and the second - North America, are still gradually dispersing, thereby prompting Icelandic volcanoes to be active. Small and large eruptions occur here approximately every 4-6 years.
The climate of Iceland, given the proximity of its location to the Arctic Circle, can be called mild. True, there is no warm summer here. But also harsh winters are also rare, but there is a lot of precipitation. It would seem that unusually favorable conditions for various kinds of vegetation, which should thrive here with fantastic strength. But in reality, 3/4 of the island's territory is a rocky plateau, in some places covered with mosses and rare herbs. In addition, out of 103,000 square km, about 12,000 are occupied by glaciers. like this natural landscape surrounds Icelandic volcanoes and adorns their slopes. In addition to those visible to the eye, there are many volcanoes around the island, hidden by a layer of ice ocean waters. All together there are almost one and a half hundred of them, among which 26 are active.
Geological features
Icelandic volcanoes are overwhelmingly shield-shaped in shape. They are formed by liquid lava, which repeatedly poured out to the surface from the bowels of the Earth. Such mountain formations have the appearance of a convex shield with rather gentle slopes. Their peaks are crowned with craters, and more often so-called calderas, which are huge basins with a more or less even bottom and steep walls. The diameter of the caldera is measured in kilometers, and the height of the walls - hundreds of meters. Shield volcanoes tend to overlap due to lava pouring out of them. As a result, an extensive volcanic shield is formed, which is observed on the island of Iceland. They are composed mainly of basalt rocks, which spread like water in the molten state.
In addition to shield volcanoes, Iceland has stratovolcanoes. These have the shape of a cone with steeper slopes, since the lava erupting from them is viscous, hardens quickly, before it has time to spill over many kilometers. A prime example This type of formation is Iceland's famous Hekla volcano or, for example, Askja.
By location, terrestrial, underwater and under-ice mountain formations are distinguished, and by "life activity" - dormant and active. In addition, there are many small mud volcanoes spewing not lava, but gases and mud.
"Gateway to Hell"
So dubbed the volcano in the south of Iceland, called Hekla. It is considered one of the most active, since eruptions occur here almost every 50 years. The last time this happened was at the end of February 2000. Hekla looks like a majestic white cone rushing into the sky. In form it is a stratovolcano, and by its nature it is part of mountain range stretching for 40 km. It is all restless, but it shows the highest activity in the area of the Geklugya fissure, 5500 m long, belonging to Gekla. From Icelandic, this word can be translated as "hood and cloak." This is due to the fact that its top is often covered with clouds. Now the slopes of Hekla are practically lifeless, but once trees and shrubs grew on them, grasses raged. Not so long ago, work began in the country to restore fauna on this volcano, mainly willows and birches.
Iceland has suffered from seismic activity in this area more than once. Volcano Hekla (according to scientists) has been actively spitting lava onto the surface of the Earth for 6600 years. Studying volcanic layers, seismologists have found that the strongest eruption here happened in the interval from 950 to 1150 years. BC. According to the amount of ash thrown into the atmosphere then, he was given 5 points out of 7 possible. The power of the eruption was such that the air temperature in the entire Northern Hemisphere of the Earth dropped for several years. The oldest documented eruption on Hekla happened in 1104, and the longest - in 1947. It lasted over a year. In general, on Hekla all eruptions are unique, and all are different. There is only one regularity here - the longer this volcano sleeps, the more it then rages.
Askya
One of the most "tourist" and most picturesque is this volcano, located in the eastern part of the island, in the national park Vatnajökull, named after a huge glacier (the largest in Iceland and the third largest in the world). Askya is at his northern edge and not covered in ice. It rises 1510 meters above the plateau and is famous for its lakes - the large Escuvati and the small Viti, which appeared in the caldera due to the Askja eruption in 1875. Escuwati with a depth of about 220 meters is considered the most deep lake in the country. Viti is much smaller - only up to 7 meters deep. It attracts hundreds of tourists with the unusual milky blue color of the water and the fact that its temperature can rise to +60 degrees Celsius and never drops below +20 degrees. Mirror Viti is almost perfectly round, and the banks are very high (from 50 m) and steep. The angle of their slopes exceeds 45 degrees. Translated from Icelandic, “Viti” means “hell”, which is facilitated by the smell of sulfur that is constantly present here. The last eruption of the Icelandic volcano Askja happened in 1961, and since then it has been dormant, although it is considered active. This does not scare tourists at all, who visit Askya so actively that they even built 2 tourist routes, and a campsite was built 8 km from the caldera dish.
Baurdarbunga
The name of the Icelandic volcano Baurdarbunga is often shortened to Bardarbunga. It arose on behalf of Baurdur. That was the name of one of the ancient settlers of the island, who apparently lived in these places, since in Icelandic “Baurdarbunga” means “Baurdur’s hill”. Now it is deserted and deserted, only hunters and tourists wander here, and even then only in summer. The volcano is a neighbor of Askja, but is located a little to the south, just under the edge of the Vatnajökull glacier. This is a relatively high (2009 meters) stratovolcano, periodically "pleasing" with its eruptions. One of the largest, which received 6 points, happened in 1477.
The latest "trick" of the Icelandic volcano Bardarbunga pretty ruffled the nerves of the inhabitants of the island, especially airline workers. In 1910, there was an eruption here, but not very strong, after which the mountain calmed down. And now, after almost a hundred years, namely in 2007, seismologists again noticed its activity, which gradually increased. The maximum was expected from minute to minute.
eruption
At the beginning of the summer of 2014, instruments recorded significant movements of magma in the Bardarbunga chamber. On August 17, tremors of magnitude 3.8 occurred in the area of the volcano, and on the 18th their magnitude increased to 4.5 points. Residents of nearby villages and tourists were urgently evacuated, part of the roads were blocked, and a yellow code was announced for airlines. The eruption of the Icelandic volcano Bardarbunga began on the 23rd. The color of the code was immediately changed to red, and all flights over the area were banned. Although the 4.9-5.5 quake continued, there was no particular danger to the airliners, and by evening the color of the code was changed to orange. On the 29th, magma appeared. It splashed out of the mouth of the volcano and spread in the direction of Askya, going beyond the glacier. The color of the code was again raised to red, halting all flights over the volcano, making it much more difficult for airlines to operate. Since the magma spread quite peacefully, by the evening of the 29th, the color of the code was again reduced to orange. And on August 31 at 7 in the morning, magma splashed out from the fault that had arisen earlier. new force. The width of its flow reached 1 km, and the length - 3 km. The code turned red again, and in the evening again fell to orange. In this spirit, the eruption lasted until the end of February 2015, after which the volcano began to fall asleep. After 16 days, tourists again poured in.
Eyyafjadlayeküll
Only 0.005% of earthlings can correctly pronounce this name of the Icelandic volcano. Eyyafyadlayekyudl - something close to "true" in the Russian version. Although this volcano is located in the south of the island (125 km from Reykjavik), it was completely covered by a glacier, which was given the same complex name. The area of the glacier is more than 100 square km. At its top is the source of the Skogau River, and a little lower fall the waterfalls Skogafoss and Kvernyuvoss, which are attractive for tourists. A more or less significant eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull happened in 1821. And although it lasted almost 13 months, it did not cause trouble, except for the thawing of the glacier, since its intensity did not exceed 2 points. This volcano was considered so trustworthy that the village of Skougar was even founded on its southern tip. And suddenly in March 2010, Eyyafyadlayekyudl woke up again. A 500-meter fault appeared in its eastern part, from which clouds of ash soared into the air. It was all over by the beginning of May. This time the intensity of the eruption reached 4 points. Now the slopes of the volcano are covered not with ice, but with green vegetation. Many are interested in which Icelandic city is closest to the Eyjafjallajökull volcano. Here it is worth mentioning the village of Skougar, which has as many as 25 inhabitants. The next is the village of Holt, then Hvolsvulur and the town of Selfoss, located about 50 km from the mountain.
Katla
This volcano is located just 20 km from Eyjafjallajökull and is more hectic. Its height is 1512 meters, and the frequency of eruptions is from 40 years. Since Katla is partly covered by the Myrdalsjökull glacier, its activity is fraught with ice melting and floods, which happened in 1755, and in 1918, and in 2011. Moreover, the last time it was so large-scale that it demolished the bridge on the Mulakvisl River and destroyed the road. Scientists have absolutely precisely established that the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull every time is the impetus for the activity of Katla. In any case, this pattern has been observed since 920.
Surtsey
Active volcanoes in Iceland are extremely beneficial for Icelanders. They help to enrich the country, and the geysers located in their range are used to heat houses, greenhouses, and swimming pools. But that's not all. Volcanoes in Iceland increase the country's territory! The last time this happened was in November 1963. Then after the eruption underwater volcanoes off the southwestern coast of the island, a new landmass appeared, called Surtsey. He became a unique reserve where scientists track the emergence of life. Formerly completely lifeless at first, Surtsey now boasts not only mosses and lichens, but even flowers and shrubs in which birds have begun to nest. Now gulls, swans, auks, petrels, puffins and others are observed here. The height of Surtsey is 154 meters, the area is 1.5 square meters. km, and it still continues to grow. It is part of the chain of underwater volcanoes Vestmannaeyjar.
Esya
This dormant volcano famous for the fact that at its foot is the capital of the state - Reykjavik. When the Icelandic volcano Esja erupted for the last time, it is difficult to say, but no one is interested in it. The volcano, the top of which is visible from almost anywhere in the city, is loved by all its residents and extremely popular with tourists, climbers and all connoisseurs harsh beauty nature. The mountain range, of which Esja is a part, begins at the fjord above the capital and stretches to national park Thingvellir. The height of the volcano is about 900 meters, and its slopes, overgrown with shrubs and flowers, are extremely picturesque.
Lucky
This shield volcano is a gem of the Skaftafell National Park. It is located near the city with the simple name of Kirkjubeyarklaustur. Laki is part of the 25 km long Icelandic volcano chain, consisting of 115 craters. The volcanoes Katla and Grimsvotn are also links in this chain. The height of their craters is mostly small, about 800-900 meters. Laki Crater is located somewhere in the middle between the glaciers - the huge Vatnajokull and the relatively small Mirdalsjokull. It is considered active, but has not caused problems for more than 200 years.
Grimsvotn
This volcano is the top of the chain in which Lucky is a member. Nobody knows its exact height. Some believe that it is only 970 meters, others call the figure 1725 meters. The size of the crater is also difficult to determine, since after each eruption they increase significantly. The word "Grimsvotn" in Icelandic means "gloomy waters". It arose, perhaps, because after the volcanic eruptions, some part of the Vatnajökull glacier, which covers it, melts. Grimsvotn is considered almost the most active on the peninsula, as it is activated every 3-10 years. The last time it happened in 2011, on May 21. Smoke and ash escaping from its crater then rose 20 km into the sky. Many flights were canceled not only in Iceland, but also in Britain, Norway, Denmark, Scotland and even Germany.
fatal eruption
lucky in this moment quiet and calm. He rarely rages, but, as they say, aptly. In 1783, the once again awakened volcano in Iceland - Lucky - united the devil's power with its neighbor Grimsvotn and a boiling lava flow hit the surroundings. The length exceeded 130 km. She, sweeping away everything in her path, spilled over the territory of 565 km 2. At the same time, poisonous vapors of fluorine and sulfur swirled in the air, as in hell. As a result, thousands of animals died, almost all the birds and fish in the area. From high temperatures, the ice began to melt, their waters flooded everything that did not burn. killed 1/5 of the inhabitants of the country, and the luminous fog, observed all summer even in America, lowered the temperature throughout the northern hemisphere of the planet, causing famine in many countries. This eruption is considered the most destructive in the 1000-year history of the Earth.
Eraivajokull
These are the Icelandic volcanoes. I would like to finish our story with a story about Eraivajokull, the largest on the island. It is on it that highest point Iceland - Hvannadalshnukur peak. The volcano is located in the Skaftafell nature reserve. The height of this giant is 2119 meters, its caldera is not round, like most other similar formations, but rectangular with sides of 4 and 5 km. Eraivajokull is considered active, but its last eruption ended in May 1828, and so far it does not bother anyone anymore - it stands, covered with ice, and admires its harsh beauty.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority today ordered the closure of airspace countries due to the active volcano Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland. The volcano erupts for the second time in less than a month, melting the ice, releasing smoke and steam into the air and forcing hundreds of people to flee their homes. Volcanic ash has led to the cancellation of many flights in northern Europe. Collected in this issue are photographs recent eruptions. (Look )
(Total 23 photos)
1. Clouds of smoke rise from an erupting volcano on April 14 near Reykjavik. All flights at London airports, including the famous Heathrow, were canceled today from noon due to volcanic ash, which has already caused the delay of almost 300 flights in Iceland. (AFP/Getty Images)
2. A picture taken from a helicopter by the Icelandic Coast Guard shows the flooding caused by the Eyjafjalla glacier on April 14th. On Wednesday, the glacier melted due to a volcanic eruption, causing massive flooding that threatened to wash away roads and bridges and forced hundreds of people to flee their homes. (REUTERS/Icelandic Coast Guard/Arni Saeberg)
3. Melting ice of the Eyjafjalla glacier in southern Iceland. (REUTERS/Icelandic Coast Guard/Arni Saeberg)
4. Glacial river Markarfljot to the west of the Eyjafjalla glacier. During the second eruption of an Icelandic volcano, in less than a month, part of the glacier melted, causing a major flood. As a result, 800 people had to be evacuated and flights over Norway were cancelled. (HALLDOR KOLBEINS/AFP/Getty Images)
5. Flooding caused by a volcanic eruption in Iceland on April 14. (REUTERS/Icelandic Coast Guard/Arni Saeberg)
6. A man photographs a road washed out by flooding after the melting of the Eyjafjalla glacier, near Reykjavik. (HALLDOR KOLBEINS/AFP/Getty Images)
7. Smoke and steam rise from the volcano, which is erupting for the second time in less than a month. (AP Photo/Icelandic Coastguard)
8. Fountains and , a volcanic plume and steam from evaporating snow are visible in this natural-color satellite image. The picture was taken on March 24 by the ALI instrument aboard the Earth Observing-1 satellite. Lava fountains (orange-red) are practically invisible through the lens of the device with a resolution of 10 meters. The cinder cone surrounding the fissure is black, as is the lava flow flowing to the northeast. White volcanic gases and lava rise from the fissure, and where lava meets snow, steam rises into the air. (The bright green stripe along the edge of the lava flow is sensor distortion.) (NASA's Earth Observatory/Robert Simmon)
9. This image, taken on March 27, shows lava erupting from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano about 125 km east of Reykjavik. A small Icelandic volcano that has forced hundreds of people from their homes has caused a "tourist explosion" as people flock to Iceland to watch the spectacle. (HALLDOR KOLBEINS/AFP/Getty Images)
10. Tourists gathered to watch the Eyjafjallajokull volcano spewing lava on March 27. On the morning of April 14, more than 800 people were evacuated in the area of the awakened volcano. (HALLDOR KOLBEINS/AFP/Getty Images)
11. People gathered to watch the lava flow of the volcano Eyyafyatlayokudl on March 27. (HALLDOR KOLBEINS/AFP/Getty Images)
16. The volcano erupts lava fountains in Holsjodlyur on March 21. (Fior Kjartansson/AFP/Getty Images)
17. Steam and hot gases rise above the lava from the Eyjafyatlayokudl volcano on April 3. (Ulrich Latzenhofer / CC BY-SA)
18. In this photo taken by the NEODASS satellite station at the University of Dundee, an ash plume can be seen stretching from Iceland (top left) towards the UK. (AP Photo/NEODAAS/University of Dundee)
