Grábrökarhraun

May 2, 2016.Reading time 1 minute.

The rough frozen sea of aa lava flowed 3600-4000 years ago from the nearby volcanic craters.

Saxhóll

May 3, 2016.Reading time 1 minute.

Along the very western edge of the Snaefellsnes peninsula is a field of volcanic craters and lava flows. The road cuts through the lava, with some interesting formations.

Eldborg

May 3, 2016.Reading time less than 1 minute.

This huge crater along Route 54, just as you turn west onto the Snaefellsnes Peninsula is a landmark for miles around. It is the largest volcanic crater along the rift, and probably erupted 5-6000 years ago. The lava fields surrouding the crater are of two types — The older expanse is pahoehoe lava, while the […]

Gerðuberg

May 3, 2016.Reading time 1 minute.

One of the oddest features of a volcanic landscape are stretches of weird hexagonal blocks of basalt, fractured lava beds that look like bundles of straws, or floor tiles.

Types of Volcanoes

May 6, 2016.Reading time 4 minutes.

There are hundreds of volcanic cones dotting the landscape of Iceland. Most are extinct, of course — although there are eruptions every few years that remind everyone that Iceland isn’t quite docile yet. The stark and rocky sides of volcanic craters are a huge tourist attraction in Iceland — climbing to the rims of extinct […]

Types of Lava

May 7, 2016.Reading time 3 minutes.

There are two general types of basaltic lava flows, pāhoehoe and ʻaʻā. In Iceland, they are called helluhraun and apalhraun. Pāhoehoe Pāhoehoe is smooth thick lava, that flows like molasses and cools in wavy arcs. When lava flows slowly, a crust can form on top that inhibits the lava from bursting through. It can form into huge […]

Leitahraun Lava Field

May 13, 2016.Reading time 1 minute.

There are hundreds of miles in Iceland lined on each side by lava flows, ranging from soft, moss-covered lumpy fields to lunar-like expanses of rocks and sand.