Hofsjökull

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Hofsjökull

Satellite image of Hofsjökull.
Elevation 1,782 metres (5,846 ft)
Prominence ≈1100 m
Location
Location Southwestern Iceland
Coordinates 64°49′N 18°49′W / 64.817°N 18.817°W / 64.817; -18.817
Geology
Type Subglacial shield volcano with caldera
Age of rock Holocene
The picture shows Arnarfell hiðmikla (Great Eagle Mountain) in the middle, Múlajökull glacier to the left and Þjórsárjökull glacier to the right.

Hofsjökull (Icelandic: “temple glacier”) is the third largest glacier in Iceland after Vatnajökull and Langjökull and the largest active volcano in the country.[1] It situates at the west of the Highlands of Iceland and north of the mountain range Kerlingarfjöll, between the two largest glaciers of Iceland. It covers an area of 925 km2, reaching 1,765 m (5,791 ft) at its summit.[2] The subglacial volcano is a shield type with caldera.[3]

Hofsjökull is the source of several rivers including the Þjórsá, Iceland's longest river.[4]

In the southeast of Iceland, between the easternmost glacier tongue of Vatnajökull (Axajökull) and Þrándarjökull, is a smaller glacier (area about 4 km²), which is also called Hofsjökull.[citation needed]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Thordarson & Hoskuldsson, p. 72
  2. ↑ National Land Survey of Iceland (2001), National Land Survey of Iceland – Geographical information, retrieved 2008-08-14 /
  3. ↑ Thordarson & Hoskuldsson, p. 29
  4. ↑ Thordarson & Hoskuldsson, p. 83

References

  • Thordurson, Thor; Hoskuldsson, Armann (2002), Classic Geology in Europe 3: Iceland, Harpenden, England: Terra Publishing, ISBN 1-903544-06-8 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hofsjökull.
Glaciers of Iceland

Coordinates: 64°49′N 18°49′W / 64.817°N 18.817°W / 64.817; -18.817

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