Leirhnjúkur
- 2015
Nearly thirty years after the last eruptions, the ground here is still smoking and hot to the touch.
The Leirhnjúkur area is a central volcano in Krafla caldera.
One hundred thousand years ago, there was a volcanic cone here that caved in after erupting.
The caldera thus formed is now filled with younger volcanic material.
Below at a depth of about 3 km, however, is a magma chamber.
Volcanic activity in the area occurs at intervals of several centuries.
A new series of eruptions (the "Krafla-fires") began in Krafla in 1975, after an intermission of about 250 years.
In the following nine years, nine eruptions occurred.
Nearly thirty years after the last eruptions, the ground here is still smoking and hot to the touch.
The Leirhnjúkur area is a central volcano in Krafla caldera.
One hundred thousand years ago, there was a volcanic cone here that caved in after erupting.
The caldera thus formed is now filled with younger volcanic material.
Below at a depth of about 3 km, however, is a magma chamber.
Volcanic activity in the area occurs at intervals of several centuries.
A new series of eruptions (the "Krafla-fires") began in Krafla in 1975, after an intermission of about 250 years.
In the following nine years, nine eruptions occurred.
