Eldgjá
| Eldgjá | |
|---|---|
| File:Eldgja.jpg
Canyon floor of Eldgjá
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | varies: canyon to 800 metres (2,625 ft) |
| Listing | List of volcanoes in Iceland |
| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Geography | |
 Eldgjá
Location in Iceland
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| Location | Iceland |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Fissure vents of Katla |
| Last eruption | 934 |
Eldgjá (Icelandic Audio file "Is-Eldgjá pronunciation.ogg" not found, English: Fire Canyon) is a volcano and a canyon in Iceland. Eldgjá and the Katla volcano are part of the same volcanic system in the south of the country.
Situated between Landmannalaugar and Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Eldgjá is the largest volcanic canyon in the world, 270 m deep and 600 m wide at its greatest. It was discovered by Þorvaldur Thoroddsen in 1893. The first documented eruption in 934 was the largest flood basalt in historic time. The areal extent of the lava is around 800 km2.[1] An estimated 18 km3 of magma poured out of the earth.[2]
There is a waterfall named Ófærufoss within the canyon. A natural bridge across the waterfall vanished in 1993 due to excess water from melting ice.
The northern part of Eldgjá, including Ófærufoss, and surrounding areas, have been a part of Vatnajökull National Park since 2011.[3]
See also
- Geography of Iceland
- Glaciers of Iceland
- Glacial lake outburst flood
- Iceland plume
- Iceland hotspot
- List of lakes of Iceland
- Timetable of major worldwide volcanic eruptions
- Volcanism in Iceland
References
External links
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