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Iceland · Stratovolcano

Torfajökull

Torfajokull

Type
Stratovolcano
Elevation
1280m
Last eruption
1477
Torfajökull
Photo: TommyBee · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
Iceland
Region
Atlantic Ocean / Iceland Neovolcanic Rift Volcanic Province
Elevation
1280m
Coordinates
63.892, -19.122
Last eruption
1477
Tectonic setting
Rift zone / Oceanic crust (< 15 km)
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Rhyolite

Geological summary

The Torfajökull central volcano, located north of Myrdalsjökull and south of Thorisvatn lake, is cut by a 12-km-wide caldera that formed during the Pleistocene.

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

From Wikipedia

Torfajökull is a rhyolitic stratovolcano, with a large caldera capped by a glacier of the same name and associated with a complex of subglacial volcanoes. Torfajökull last erupted in 1477 and consists of the largest area of silicic extrusive rocks in Iceland. This is now known to be due to a VEI 5 eruption 55,000 years ago.

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

10 recordedGlossary

Record summary

Confirmed eruptions
10
Uncertain eruptions
0
Span of confirmed record
6050 BCE – 1477
Largest confirmed eruption
VEI 3 (870, the most recent of 2)
Confirmed eruptions since 1900
0
Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions · Use arrow keys to move between bars, Enter to open
6050 BCE~5799 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?5297 BCE~5046 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?5046 BCE~4795 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?4795 BCE~4545 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1785 BCE~1534 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1283 BCE~1032 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?28 BCE~223 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 3724~975 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 3975~1226 · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1226~1477 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 26050 BCE4294 BCE2286 BCE530 BCE1226

Detailed timeline

  1. 1477VEI 2Observed
    1477-03 – end unknown
    N of caldera (Namshraun, Laugahraun)
  2. 1170VEI ?Geological estimate
    1170 – end unknown
    W side of caldera (Hrafntinnuhraun)
  3. 870VEI 3Geological estimate
    870 – end unknown
    W side of caldera (Hrafntinnuhraun)
  4. 150 (±100 yrs)VEI 3Geological estimate
    150 – end unknown
    N of caldera (Domadalshraun)
  5. 1150 BCE (±100 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    1150 BCE – end unknown
    N of caldera (Domadalshraun)
  6. 1550 BCE (±500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    1550 BCE – end unknown
    W side of caldera (Markafljot domes)
  7. 4550 BCE (±500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    4550 BCE – end unknown
    N of caldera (Haolduhraun)
  8. 4850 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    4850 BCE – end unknown
    W of caldera (Laufafell domes)
  9. 5050 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    5050 BCE – end unknown
    Hrafntinnusker and Domadalshraun
  10. 6050 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    6050 BCE – end unknown
    W side of caldera (Slettahraun)

Nearby volcanoes

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.