List of volcanoes in Iceland
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There are too many presumed extinct or now inactive volcanic features to list all of these below, so most monogenetic volcanoes can not be mentioned individually. This list of volcanoes in Iceland only includes major active and dormant volcanic mountains, of which at least 18 vents have erupted since human settlement of Iceland began around 900 AD. Subsequent to the main list a list is presented that classifies the volcanoes into zones, systems and types. This is in the context that there are several classification systems and many of the volcanoes may have separate shallow magma chambers and a deeper common magma source.
Where a major vent is part of a larger volcano this is indicated in the list comment. Since some of these vent eruptions have been very large, disruptive or been regarded in popular culture as a separate volcano they have been included in the list but where this is not the case it is not appropriate to duplicate or create entries. So for minor vent eruptions since human occupation see the more comprehensive list of volcanic eruptions in Iceland.
Volcanoes
| Name | Elevation | Coordinates | Last eruption | VEI | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (m) | (ft) | |||||
| Askja | 1516 | 4974 | 65.03°N 16.75°W | 1961 | 5 | [1] Also known as Askja-Dyngjufjöll, or Askja-Hrúthálsar volcanic system[2] |
| Bárðarbunga | 2005 | 6515 | 64.64°N 17.56°W | 2014–2015 | 6 | Also known as Bardarbunga and Veiðivötn[3][4] |
| Brennisteinsfjöll | 626 | 2054 | 63.92°N 21.83°W | 1341 (± 1 year) | 2 | Also known as Bláfjöll and Brennisteinsfjoll[5][6] |
| Eldfell | 279 | 915 | 63.43°N 20.25°W | 1973 | 3 | A vent in the Vestmannaeyjar, or Eyjar volcanic system. It is a volcanic cone on the island of Heimaey.[7][8] |
| Eldey | 70 | 230 | 63.733°N 23°W | 1926 | 3 or 4 (Disputed) | [9] Also known as Eldey and Geirfuglasker volcanic systems.[10] This is classified often in either the Reykjanes volcanic system or as part of the Reykjanes Ridge. In the later context an eruption may have occurred as recently as 1970[11] |
| Eldgjá | ca 800 | ca 2625 | 64.24°N 18.37°W | 934 | 6 | [12] Also known as Katla, Mýrdalsjökull[13] A large eruptive fissure of the Katla volcano. |
| Eldvörp–Svartsengi | 230 | 755 | 63.87°N 22.40°W | 2024, ongoing | - | Also Sundhnúkur crater row (Sundhnúkagígaröðin). Is part of Svartsengi volcanic system but this has been classified by some with the Reykjanes volcanic system.[14][15] |
| Esjufjöll | 1760 | 5774 | 64.27°N 16.65°W | 1927 | - | Also known as Esjufjoll[16][17] |
| Eyjafjallajökull | 1666 | 5466 | 63.63°N 19.62°W | 2010 | 4 | Also known as Eyjafjallajokull[18][19] |
| Fagradalsfjall | 385 | 1263 | 63.89°N 22.27°W | 2023 | 0 | [20] Also has been classified as part of Krýsuvík-Trölladyngja volcanic system.[21] |
| Fremrinámur | 939 | 3081 | 65.43°N 16.65°W | 800 BCE (± 300 years) | 0 | Also known as Fremrinámar and Fremrinamur.[22][23] |
| Grensdalur | 497 | 1631 | 64.02°N 21.17°W | dormant | - | Active during Pleistocene,[24] it is part of the Hengill volcanic system.[25] |
| Grímsnes | 214 | 702 | 64.03°N 20.87°W | ~3500 BCE | 3 | Also known as Grimsnes[26][27] |
| Grímsvötn | 1725 | 5659 | 64.42°N 17.33°W | 2011 | 4 | Also known as Grimsvotn[28] and Grímsvötn-Laki.[29] |
| Heiðarsporðar | 490 | 5659 | 65.583°N 16.817°W | 200 BCE | 4 | Also known as Heidarspordar and Heiðarsporður[30][31] |
| Hekla | 1491 | 1608 | 63.98°N 19.70°W | 2000 | 3 | [32] Also known as Hekla-Vatnafjöll.[33] |
| Helgafell | 227 | 745 | 63.43°N 20.26°W | 3950 BCE (± 300 years) | - | A vent in the Vestmannaeyjar, or Eyjar volcanic system. It is a volcano on the island of Heimaey.[7][8] |
| Helgrindur | 986 | 3235 | 64.866°N 23.283°W | unknown | - | Also known as Lýsuhóll, Lysuhóll, Lysukard[34] or Lýsuskarð. Has had two small eruptions between 1100 and 10,000 years ago but timings very poory constrained.[35] |
| Hengill | 803 | 2634 | 64.18°N 21.33°W | 150 CE (± 75 years) | 2 | Complicated volcanic system with largest volcanic vent Hengill, as at a triple junction.[36][25] |
| Herðubreið | 1682 | 5518 | 65.18°N 16.34°W | dormant | - | Active during Pleistocene. It is a prominent central volcano of the Askja (Askja-Dyngjufjöll, Askja-Hrúthálsar) volcanic system.[1][2] |
| Hofsjökull | 1782 | 5846 | 64.85°N 19.53°W | dormant | - | Active during Holocene. Also known as Hofsjokull[37] or Hofsjökull-Kerlingarfjöll.[38] |
| Holuhraun | 778 | 2553 | 64.84°N 16.83°W | 2015 | - | Part of the Bárðarbunga (Bardarbunga, Veiðivötn) fissure system.[3][4] |
| Hrómundartindur | 540 | 1772 | 64.07°N 21.20°W | 10,000 BCE | - | Not dormant as there was in 1994 magma inflow into its reservoir at 7 km (4.3 mi) depth. Also known as Hromundartindur[39][40] |
| Hveravellir | 1360 | 4462 | 64.75°N 19.98°W | 950 CE ± 50 years | 6 | Northern central volcano of the eastern Langjökull volcanic system also known as Langjokull, Oddnýjarhnjúkur-Langjökull, Oddnyjarhnjukur-Langjokull, and Skjaldbreiður (southern part) volcanoes.[41][42] |
| Hverfjall | 420 | 1378 | 65.36°N 16.53°W | ~500 BCE | - | Tuff ring in the Krafla fissure system.[43][44] |
| Jólnir | 70* | 230* | 63.30°N 20.63°W | 1966 | - | A vent in the Vestmannaeyjar, or Eyjar volcanic system. This vent of Surtsey has since eroded to below sea level.[7][8] |
| Katla | 1512 | 4961 | 63.63°N 19.05°W | 1918 | 5 | [12]{ Also known as Katla, Mýrdalsjökull[13] |
| Kerlingarfjöll | 1488 | 4882 | 64.63°N 19.32°W | dormant | - | Active during Holocene. The stratovolcano of Hofsjökull[37] or Hofsjökull-Kerlingarfjöll.[38] |
| Kolbeinsey Ridge | 5 | 16 | 66.67°N 18.50°W | 1755 | 2(?) | Continuation to north of Mid-Atlantic Ridge[45] |
| Kollóttadyngja | 1177 | 3825 | 65.22°N 16.55°W | unknown | - | The shield volcano associated with Askja (Askja-Dyngjufjöll, Askja-Hrúthálsar)[1][2] |
| Krafla | 650 | 2133 | 65.73°N 16.78°W | 1984 | 4 | [43][44] |
| Krýsuvík | 379 | 1243 | 63.93°N 22.10°W | 1188 | 2 | Also known as Krysuvik-Trolladyngja,[46] Krýsuvík-Trölladyngja, or Krísuvík[47] |
| Kverkfjöll | 1920 | 6299 | 64.65°N 16.72°W | 1968 | 1 | Also known as Kverkfjoll[48][49] |
| Laki | 1725 | 5606 | 64.06°N 18.22°W | 1783-84 | 6 | Part of Grímsvötn fissure system, so also known as Grimsvotn,[28] and Grímsvötn-Laki.[29] |
| Loki-Fögrufjöll | 1570 | 5151 | 64.48°N 17.80°W | 1910 | - | Name of subglacial cone stratovolcano vent system of the Bárðarbunga (Bardarbunga, Veiðivötn) volcanic system, being the Hamarinn central volcano; the Loki ridge to its north-east and the Fögrufjöll ridge to its south-west[3][4] |
| Ljósufjöll | 988 | 3241 | 64.87°N 22.23°W | 960 AD (± 10 years) | 3 | Also known as Ljosufjoll[50][51] |
| Öræfajökull | 2119 | 6952 | 64.00°N 16.65°W | 1727 | 5 | Also known as Oraefajokull[52] or Hnappafellsjökull[53] |
| Prestahnúkur | 1386 | 4504 | 64.60°N 20.60°W | 7550 BC (± 500 years) | - | Also known as Prestahnukur[54] or Prestahnjúkur[55] it is the central volcano of the western Langjökull system.[42] |
| Reykjaneshryggur | -80 | -262 | 63.67°N 23.33°W | 1970 | - | The 1970 eruption of Reykjaneshryggur (the Reykjanes Ridge) has indirect evidence and some would assign the 1926 eruption near Eldey as most recent as this was definite[11][15][10] |
| Snæfellsjökull | 1448 | 4751 | 64.80°N 23.78°W | 200 CE (± 150 years) | 2 | Also known as Snaefellsjokull[56][57] |
| Surtsey | 174 | 571 | 63.30°N 20.62°W | 1963 | - | An island vent in the Vestmannaeyjar, or Eyjar volcanic system.[7][8] |
| Theistareykir | 564 | 1850 | 65.88°N 16.83°W | 750 BCE (± 100 years) | - | Þeistareykjarbunga (Theistareykjarbunga) is a central volcano of the Theistareykir[58] or Þeistareykir volcanic system.[59] |
| Thórðarhyrna | 1660 | 5446 | 64.12°N 17.0°W | 1910 | 4 | Thordarhyrna (Þórðarhyrna)[60] is a central volcano of the Thordarhyrna Grímsvötn-Laki volcanic system.[61] |
| Tindfjallajökull | 1463 | 4800 | 63.78°N 19.57°W | dormant | - | Active during Holocene.Also known as Tindfjallajokull[62] or Tindfjöll.[63] |
| Torfajökull | 1259 | 4131 | 63.92°N 19.17°W | 1477 | 3 | Also known as Torfajokull.[64][65] |
| Trölladyngja | 1468 | 4816 | 64.89°N 17.25°W | ~2980 BC | - | Part of the Bárðarbunga (Bardarbunga, Veiðivötn) fissure system.[3][4] |
| Tungnafellsjökull | 1535 | 5036 | 64.73°N 17.92°W | dormant | - | Active during Holocene. Also known as Tungnafellsjokull,[66] Tungnafellsjökull-Vonarskarð, or Vonarskarð[67] |
| Vatnafjöll | 1235 | 4052 | 63.92°N 19.67°W | 750 AD (± 1000[dubious – discuss] years) | - | [32] Also known as Hekla or Hekla-Vatnafjöll.[33] |
| Vestmannaeyjar | 283 | 928 | 63.25°N 20.17°W | 1973 | - | Also known as Eyjar volcanic system.[7][8] |
Volcanic zones and systems
Summarize
Perspective
Volcanic systems and central volcanoes in Iceland. Shading shows: likely active volcanic systems '"`UNIQ--templatestyles-000000F7-QINU`"' fissure swarms, '"`UNIQ--templatestyles-000000F8-QINU`"' central volcanoes, '"`UNIQ--templatestyles-000000F9-QINU`"' calderas, '"`UNIQ--templatestyles-000000FA-QINU`"' subglacial terrain above 1,100 m (3,600 ft), and '"`UNIQ--templatestyles-000000FB-QINU`"' seismically active areas. Clicking on the image enlarges to full window and enables mouse-over with more detail.
Iceland has four major volcanic zones related a divergent tectonic plate boundary, and a hot spot:
- the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ), subdivided into the Reykjanes Ridge (RR) (the Mid-Atlantic Ridge South of Iceland) and the Reykjanes Volcanic Belt (RVB) (on the main island);
- the West Volcanic Zone (WVZ);
- the East Volcanic Zone (EVZ) (extended to the Westman Islands, south of the main island as part off the off rift, South Iceland volcanic zone (SIVZ)[68]);
- the North volcanic zone (NVZ).
The Mid-Iceland Belt (MIB) connects them across central Iceland.
In Iceland's EVZ, the central volcanoes, Vonarskarð and Hágöngur belong to the same volcanic system; this also applies to Bárðarbunga and Hamarinn, and possibly to Grímsvötn and Þórðarhyrna.[69] The classification of volcanic systems depends on volcanology studies and has evolved with time. For example, while Grímsvötn and Þórðarhyrna have similar eruptive compositions, as of 2020 Þórðarhyrna had not been studied in enough detail to have assurance that these are not two separate central volcanoes of two separate volcanic systems.[70] The southern tip of the EVZ propagating rift is an off rift region called the South Iceland volcanic zone (SIVZ), that often has more evolved magma and thus explosive eruptions.[68]
North of Iceland, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is called Kolbeinsey Ridge (KR) and is connected to the NVZ via the Tjörnes fracture zone (TFZ). Also the South Iceland seismic zone (SISZ) is another fracture zone, which connects the EVZ and WVZ. Both fracture zones include their own volcanic systems, smaller than those in the MIB.
There are also two intraplate volcanic belts: Öræfajökull or Öræfi, (ÖVB) on the Eurasian plate, and Snæfellsnes (SVB) on the North American plate.[71][72] It is proposed that the east–west line going from the Grímsvötn volcano in the Mid-Iceland Belt (MIB) to the Snæfellsnes volcanic belt (SVB) shows the movement of the North American plate over the Iceland hotspot.[73]
Volcanic systems
| Volcanic system | Volcanic zone | Other features | Name of central volcano of the volcanic system |
Typical eruption style and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reykjanes | RVB | Gunnuhver geothermal field | nil | Fissure swarm with effusive lava flows and phreatomagmatic/surtseyan explosive in sea with tephra. Crater rows with spatter, scoria and some tuff cones, lava shields, tindars and hyaloclastite hills.[15] The Reykjanes and the Svartsengi volcanic systems are sometimes classified together.[15] |
| Svartsengi | RVB | Þorbjörn | nil | Fissure swarm with effusive lava flows and phreatomagmatic/surtseyan explosive in sea with tephra. Crater rows with spatter, scoria and some tuff cones, tindars and hyaloclastite hills.[15] The Reykjanes and the Svartsengi volcanic systems are sometimes classified together under the former name. Accordingly, volcanoes such as Þorbjörn have been assigned by authors to either name.[15] |
| Fagradalsfjall | RVB | Langhóll, Fagradalshraun, Geldingadalir | nil | Fissure swarm with effusive lava flows. Crater rows with spatter, scoria and some tuff cones, tindars and hyaloclastite hills.[47] The smaller Fagradalsfjall volcanic system is often classified with the Krýsuvík volcanic system.[47] |
| Krýsuvík | RVB | Búrfell | nil | Fissure swarm with effusive lava flows, minor scoria deposits with long hyaloclastite ridges, tuya, and shield volcanoes.[47] The smaller Fagradalsfjall volcanic system is often classified with the Krýsuvík volcanic system.[47] |
| Brennisteinsfjöll | RVB | Geitahlíð peak, Bláfjöll hyaloclastite ridge, Vífilsfell, Hæðir shield volcano, Leitahraun shield volcano | nil | Fissure swarm with tuyas, hyaloclastite ridges and shield volcanoes.[6] |
| Hengill | WVZ/RVB/SISZ | Grensdalur, Hveragerdi, Þingvallavatn, Hellisheiði | Hengill | Fissure swarms with effusive lava flows and minor tephra production from phreatomagmatic activity. The central volcano is a hyaloclastite massif of tuyas and tindars. There are multiple other tindars, tuyas and crater rows.[25] |
| Hrómundartindur | WVZ | - | Hrómundartindur | Multiple rows of tindars and a recent lava flow[40] |
| Grímsnes | WVZ | - | Seyðishólar | Fissure swarms with effusive lava flows, and mildly explosive magmatic tephra. Scoria cones or cone rows.[27] |
| Haukadalur | WVZ | Geysir, Laugarvatn, Bjarnarfell | Laugarfjall | Rhyolite dome.[74] |
| Langjökull | WVZ | Oddnýjarhnjúkur, Skjaldbreiður | Hveravellir | Effusive basaltic lava eruptions with jökulhlaups[42] The Prestahnúkur and Langjökull systems have been classified together.[69] |
| Prestahnúkur | WVZ | - | Prestahnúkur | Recently effusive basaltic lava eruptions but central volcano is rhyolite with ice cover so jökulhlaup potential. Clusters of tuyas and lava shields.[55] The Prestahnúkur and Langjökull systems have been classified together.[69] |
| Hofsjökull | MIB | - | Hofsjökull/Kerlingarfjöll | Double central volcanos. Recently effusive basaltic eruptions but potential for explosive tephra eruptions and jökulhlaups.[38] |
| Tungnafellsjökull | MIB | Vonarskard | Tungnafellsjökull/Hágöngur | Small basaltic lava effusive eruptions recently but multiple rhyolyte domes and caldera structure so explosive potential.[67][69] |
| Vestmannaeyjar | EVZ | Surtsey, Heimaey, Eldfell | nil | Effusive lava and phreatomagmatic. Multiple volcanic islands and sea mounts. Also known as Westman Islands, a central volcano may be developing.[8] Is part of SIVZ.[68] |
| Eyjafjallajökull | EVZ | - | Eyjafjallajökull | Explosive intermediate to rhyolitic eruptions with tephra and small basaltic, to silicic lava flows and jökulhlaups[19] Is part of SIVZ.[68] |
| Katla | EVZ | Eldgjá, Mýrdalsjökull | Katla | Typically explosive basaltic eruptions with tephra, and jökulhlaups[13] Is part of SIVZ.[68] |
| Tindfjallajökull | EVZ | - | Tindfjallajökull | Central rhyolitic dome with basaltic lava fields[63] |
| Hekla | EVZ | Vatnafjöll | Hekla | Explosive tephra eruptions and fissure swarm effusive lavas of mixed composition. Often central eruptions feature a short plinian or subplinian opening phase followed by lava effusion.[33] |
| Torfajökull | EVZ | - | Torfajökull | Explostive rhyolitic tephra and dome centrally but basalt effusive on fissure swarm. Fissure eruptions have propagating from Bárðarbunga volcanic system.[65] |
| Bárðarbunga | EVZ | Trölladyngja, Veiðivötn | Bárðarbunga/Hamarinn | Explosive basaltic eruptions with tephra, effusive lava from fissure swarms and jökulhlaups.[4] |
| Grímsvötn | EVZ | Laki | Grímsvötn/Thórdarhyrna | Explosive basaltic eruptions with tephra and lava with jökulhlaups. The Þórðarhyrna (Thordarhyrna) central volcano is not definitely part of the Grímsvötn volcanic system and may be a separate volcanic system.[29][61][70] |
| Kverkfjöll | NVZ | Kverkfjallarani | Austari Kverkfjöll | Explosive basaltic tephra eruptions and effusive basaltic lava eruptions. Tindars, hyaloclastite ridges and fissures.[49] |
| Askja | NVZ | Kollóttadyngja, Öskjuvatn and Kollur calderas | Askja (Dyngjufjöll), Herðubreið | Basaltic lava fissure eruptions with occasional large explosive silicic tephra eruptions. Double central volcanoes, shield volcano, rows of scoria/spatter cones, and some subglacial móberg ridges and associated tuyas.[2] |
| Fremrinámar | NVZ | - | Fremrinámur | Usually effusive lava in range tholeiitic (picrite and olivine-tholeiite basalts) to rhyolite.[23] |
| Krafla | NVZ | - | Krafla | Recently basaltic lava fissure eruptions, but historic caldera forming eruption on top of prior shield volcano over 100,000 years ago.[44] |
| Þeistareykir | NVZ | - | Þeistareykjabunga | Recent effusive eruptions from central vents forming lava shields but some explosive activity. The central volcano has silicic rocks but picrite and basaltic olivine tholeiites lavas are recent.[59] |
| Öræfajökull | ÖVB | - | Öræfajökull | Usually explosive tephra eruptions with jökulhlaups[53] |
| Esjufjöll | ÖVB | - | Snæhetta | Explosive tephra eruptions but rare[53] |
| Snæfell | ÖVB | - | Snæfellsjökull | Stratovolcano with rhyolites and evolved basalts and volcanic fissures with no recent eruptions put potential to reactivate.[75] |
| Ljósufjöll | SVB | - | Ljósufjöll | Stratovolcano with recently only effusive basaltic eruptions. In past rhyolytic eruptions[51] |
| Helgrindur | SVB | - | Helgrindur | Stratovolcano with recently only effusive basaltic eruptions. In past explosive silicic eruptions followed by extrusion of intermediate lava[35] |
| Snæfellsjökull | SVB | - | Snæfellsjökull | Stratovolcano with effusive basaltic eruptions and infrequent explosive silicic eruptions followed by extrusion of intermediate lava. Occasional jökulhlaups[57] |
See also
References
External links
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