Esjufjoll
Stratovolcano in Iceland
Key Facts
Elevation
1,620 m (5,315 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
64.250°, -16.583°
Region
Iceland Neovolcanic Rift Volcanic Province
Rock Type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Tectonic Setting
Rift zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
The subglacial Esjufjöll volcano at the SE part of the Vatnajökull icecap, north of Öraefajökull, consists of the Snaehetta central volcano and a large caldera. Most of the volcano, including the 40 km2 caldera, is covered by ice, but parts of the SE flank are exposed in NW-SE ridges. Most of the exposed rocks are mildly alkaline basalts, but small amounts of rhyolitic rocks are also present.
A large jökulhlaup that came down the Jokulsa a Breidamerkursandi along the coast SE of Vatnajökull in the beginning of September 1927 was accompanied by a sulfur odor, and one ashfall event on the Breidamerkurjökull possibly originated from Esjufjöll. Although Holocene eruptions have not been confirmed, earthquake swarms that could indicate magma movements were detected in October 2002.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
- Pyroclastic flows
- Lava flows
- Volcanic bombs and ballistics
- Lahars and mudflows
Risk Level
Geological Composition & Structure
Rock Types
Tectonic Setting
Age & Formation
Eruption Statistics & Analysis
| Metric | Value | Global Ranking | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Recorded Eruptions | Unknown | Low | Moderately active volcano |
| Maximum VEI | VEI Unknown | Minor | Local impact potential |
| Recent Activity | Unknown | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Atlantic Ocean Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 374020
- •Evidence: Unrest / Holocene
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The subglacial Esjufjöll volcano rises (upper left) above the Breidamerkurjökull glacier, with its prominent medial moraines. Icebergs calved from the glacier can be seen floating in Jökulsárlón lake, which drains into the Atlantic Ocean (extreme lower right). Esjufjöll is located at the SE part of the Vatnajökull icecap, north of Öræfajökull volcano.
Photo by Oddur Sigurdsson, 1986 (Icelandic National Energy Authority).
Authority Sources
Related Volcanoes
Basic Information
This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.