Eyjafjallajokull

Eyjafjallajokull is known for having an unpronounceable name and for the eruption in 2010 closing down Europe for a week or so. This “baby” volcano spout 500 tons a second of ash and got the attention of the world.

Eyjafjallajokull is one of the smaller ice caps of Iceland, situated to the north of Skogar and to the west of Myrdalsjokull.

The ice cap covers the caldera of the volcano with a summit elevation of 1,666 meters (5,466 ft). The volcano has erupted relatively frequently since the last glacial period, most recently from 1821 to 1823 and again in 2010. It derives its name from the Island Archipelago off the south coast, The Vestman Islands.

This mountain massif is actually the result of continuous eruptions during thousands of years and a vast crater on top has probably been active a few times during historic times of this country.

The icecap on top is the sixth largest of the country, and is relatively easily accessible from the mountain saddle Fimmvorduhals, the farms Seljavellir and Mork, and from the north at Stakkolt and Langanes. Nowadays it is not considered a great deed or too much of an adventure to conquer the glaciers in specially equipped and modified jeeps or other vehicles.