Esjufjöll

Esjufjöll behind the Breiðamerkurjökull

View from the south on Breiðamerkurjökull and Esjufjöll (right)

The Esjufjöll (pronounced "Ä: sjüfjötl ") is a volcanic system in the south of Iceland. It is mostly covered by the icecap Vatnajökull.

Position and shape

The Esjufjöll lie between the volcanic systems of Öræfajökull and Snæfell and form with these the Öræfi - volcanic belt, a so-called flank zone, which is located 40 to 50 km east of the actual rift zone.

The largest part of the system including a large caldera of 40 km ² located under the Vatnajökull glacier.

Probable outbreak in 1927

In historical times, the volcano erupted far as is known only once, namely, probably in 1927, but this had considerable glacier runs result. However, it also presented in October 2002 established a series of earthquakes that could indicate the possible magma movements.

Volcanism

The mountain tends to produce alkaline ( basaltic ) lavas and pyroclastic flows.

Nunataks

Some of the peaks stand out as nunataks from the glacier, including Esja, the highest mountain of the subglacial mountain range with 1522 m.

Hut

In the Esjufjöll there is a hut of the Icelandic glaciers Association Jöklarannsóknarfélag.