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Iceland · Fissure vent

Vestmannaeyjar

Type
Fissure vent
Elevation
283m
Last eruption
1973
Vestmannaeyjar
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Fissure vent
Country
Iceland
Region
Atlantic Ocean / Iceland Neovolcanic Rift Volcanic Province
Elevation
283m
Coordinates
63.416, -20.266
Last eruption
1973
Tectonic setting
Rift zone / Oceanic crust (< 15 km)
Landform
Cluster
Major rock type
Basalt / Picro-basalt

Geological summary

The mostly submarine Vestmannaeyjar volcanic system is the southernmost and youngest volcanic center of the Eastern Volcanic Zone that cuts across E-central Iceland.

Excerpt from the Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution · Read the full summary on GVP →

From Wikipedia

Vestmannaeyjar is a municipality and archipelago off the south coast of Iceland.

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

10 recordedGlossary

Record summary

Confirmed eruptions
10
Uncertain eruptions
0
Span of confirmed record
8050 BCE – 1973
Largest confirmed eruption
VEI 4 (8050 BCE)
Confirmed eruptions since 1900
2
Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions · Use arrow keys to move between bars, Enter to open
8050 BCE~7716 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 47716 BCE~7382 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 36379 BCE~6045 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?4709 BCE~4375 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?4375 BCE~4041 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 34041 BCE~3707 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1305~1639 · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1639~1973 · 3 eruptions · max VEI 38050 BCE5711 BCE3038 BCE700 BCE1639

Detailed timeline

  1. 1973VEI 3Observed
    1973-01-23 – 1973-06-28
    Heimaey (Eldfell)
  2. 1963VEI 3Observed
    1963-11-08 – 1967-06-05
    Surtsey
  3. 1896VEI ?Observed
    1896-09-16 – end unknown
    South or SE of Hellisey
  4. 1637VEI ?Observed
    1637-10 – 1638-02-28
    SW of Heimaey ?
  5. 3950 BCE (±300 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    3950 BCE – end unknown
    Heimaey (Helgafell)
  6. 4270 BCE (±200 yrs)VEI 3Geological estimate
    4270 BCE – end unknown
    Heimaey (Saefell tuff cone)
  7. 4550 BCE (±500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    4550 BCE – end unknown
    Heimaey (Stórhöfdi tuff cone)
  8. 6050 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    6050 BCE – end unknown
    Alsey, Brandur, Sudurey, Hellisey
  9. 7550 BCEVEI 3Geological estimate
    7550 BCE – end unknown
    NW Heimaey (Nordurklettar)
  10. 8050 BCEVEI 4Geological estimate
    8050 BCE – end unknown
    NW Heimaey (Háin tuff ring)

Nearby volcanoes

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.