Herðubreið

Herðubreið [' hεrðʏ̩prεi ˑ ð ] ( German: the broad -shouldered ) applies with its eye-catching form of a panel volcano as the queen of Iceland's mountains. The mountain is 1682 meters high and is located in the Icelandic highlands in the desert Ódáðahraun, not far from the volcano Askja.

Important Dates

The volcano, part of the volcanic system of Askja, has a summit crater and year-round snow fields, but no glaciers. The majestic impression made by the panel volcano is also due to the considerable differences in height compared to its immediate surroundings. It towers above the surrounding lava fields all the same at about 1000 m. The mountain is built very symmetrical, its base almost a perfect ring of about 8-9 km in circumference. Its slopes are very steep and brittle. The highest peak towering above the table surface again by about 200 m and is located on the northeast edge of the summit crater.

Geology

The panel volcano is in the lower part of palagonite, the lower parts are obviously created under a glacier. Top assume where the magma came out over the glacier, Basaltlavalagen.

Mountaineering

Herðubreið was long considered unclimbable. Only 1908 succeeded the geologist Hans Reck, the Iceland travel companion and future husband of Ina from Grumbkow, and his companion Sigurdur Sumarliðason to climb the mountain for the first time. Today, the ascent is by mountaineers zumeinst of the northwest side.

Herðubreiðarlindir

At the foot of the mountain oasis Herðubreiðarlindir, from which one can start walking routes. In earlier times, there were outlaws, such as the infamous Fjalla - Eyvindur who were excluded for crimes from society.

Part of the Vatnajökull National Park

By 1974, the mountain and its immediate surroundings were placed under nature protection. The Herðubreið now part of the Vatnajökull National Park.

Trivia

• The Boeing 757-200 Icelandair with the registration TF -FIA is named after the volcano.