Hofsjökull

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 is situated in 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.

See also

• Glaciers of Iceland
• Iceland plume
• List of volcanoes in Iceland

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.

• (Photo)

Glaciers of Iceland Drangajökull Eiríksjökull Eyjafjallajökull Geitlandsjökull Hofsjökull Langjökull Mýrdalsjökull Snæfellsjökull Þrándarjökull Þórisjökull Tindfjallajökull Torfajökull Tungnafellsjökull Vatnajökull

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