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Hekla

Stratovolcano · Iceland · 1490m

Snow-covered Hekla, one of Iceland's most prominent and active volcanoes, is seen here in an aerial view from the east. Toppgigur crater occupies the summit, in the middle of the ridge, and Axlargigur crater is seen here as a small peak along the summit ridge to the left (W). Repeated eruptions along an ENE-WSW-trending rift are responsible for Hekla's elongated profile. The 5.5-km-long Heklugja fissure cuts across the volcano. Lava flows from eruptions dating back to 1104 CE cover much of the volcano's flanks and are seen here fanning out from the ridge in all directions.
Snow-covered Hekla, one of Iceland's most prominent and active volcanoes, is seen here in an aerial view from the east. Toppgigur crater occupies the summit, in the middle of the ridge, and Axlargigur crater is seen here as a small peak along the summit ridge to the left (W). Repeated eruptions along an ENE-WSW-trending rift are responsible for Hekla's elongated profile. The 5.5-km-long Heklugja fissure cuts across the volcano. Lava flows from eruptions dating back to 1104 CE cover much of the volcano's flanks and are seen here fanning out from the ridge in all directions. · Photo: Photo by Oddur Sigurdsson, 1977 (Icelandic National Energy Authority). · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
Iceland
Region
Atlantic Ocean Volcanic Regions / Iceland Neovolcanic Rift Volcanic Province
Elevation
1490m
Coordinates
63.983, -19.666
Last eruption
2000
Tectonic setting
Rift zone / Oceanic crust (< 15 km)
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Geological summary

One of Iceland's most prominent and active volcanoes, Hekla lies near the southern end of the eastern rift zone. Hekla occupies a rift-transform junction, and has produced basaltic andesites, in contrast to the tholeiitic basalts typical of Icelandic rift zone volcanoes. Vatnafjöll, a 40-km-long, 9-km-wide group of basaltic fissures and crater rows immediately SE of Hekla forms a part of the Hekla-Vatnafjöll volcanic system. A 5.5-km-long fissure, Heklugjá, cuts across the 1491-m-high Hekla volcano and is often active along its full length during major eruptions. Repeated eruptions along this rift, which is oblique to most rifting structures in the eastern volcanic zone, are responsible for Hekla's elongated ENE-WSW profile. Frequent large silicic explosive eruptions during historical time have deposited tephra throughout Iceland, providing valuable time markers used to date eruptions from other Icelandic volcanoes. Hekla tephras are generally rich in fluorine and are consequently very hazardous to grazing animals. Extensive lava flows from historical eruptions, which date back to 1104 CE, cover much of the volcano's flanks.

From Wikipedia

Hekla, or Hecla, is an active stratovolcano in the south of Iceland with a height of 1,491 m (4,892 ft). Hekla is one of Iceland's most active volcanoes; over 20 eruptions have occurred in and around the volcano since the year 1210. During the Middle Ages, the Icelandic Norse called the volcano the "Gateway to Hell" and the idea spread over much of Europe.

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
5850 BCE~5588 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?5327 BCE~5065 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 55065 BCE~4803 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?4803 BCE~4542 BCE · 4 eruptions · max VEI 44542 BCE~4280 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?4280 BCE~4018 BCE · 4 eruptions · max VEI 54018 BCE~3757 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?3757 BCE~3495 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?3495 BCE~3233 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?2972 BCE~2710 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?2710 BCE~2448 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?2448 BCE~2187 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 51925 BCE~1663 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?1663 BCE~1402 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI 41402 BCE~1140 BCE · 3 eruptions · max VEI ?1140 BCE~878 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 5878 BCE~617 BCE · 3 eruptions · max VEI ?355 BCE~93 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?168~430 · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?430~692 · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?692~953 · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?953~1215 · 4 eruptions · max VEI 51215~1477 · 5 eruptions · max VEI 41477~1738 · 6 eruptions · max VEI 41738~2000 · 10 eruptions · max VEI 45850 BCE4018 BCE1925 BCE93 BCE1738

Detailed timeline

  1. 2000VEI 3Observed
    2000-02-26 – 2000-03-08
    SW flank
  2. 1991VEI 3Observed
    1991-01-17 – 1991-03-11
    Summit, SW, SE & NE flank fissures
  3. 1981VEI 2Observed
    1981-04-09 – 1981-04-16
    Summit and north flank (900 and 740 m)
  4. 1980VEI 3Observed
    1980-08-17 – 1980-08-20
    Summit, SW and NE flanks
  5. 1970VEI 3Observed
    1970-05-05 – 1970-07-05
    Sudurgigar, Hlidargigar, Oldugigar
  6. 1947VEI 4Observed
    1947-03-29 – 1948-04-21
    Hraungigur, Axlargigur, Toppgigur
  7. 1913VEI 2Observed
    1913-04-25 – 1913-05-18
    E & NE of Hekla (Mundafit, Lambafit)
  8. 1878VEI 2Observed
    1878-02-27 – 1878-04
    East of Hekla (Krakagigar)
  9. 1845VEI 4Observed
    1845-09-02 – 1846-04-05
    Summit, SW and NE flanks
  10. 1766VEI 4Observed
    1766-04-05 – 1768-05
    Bjallagigar
  11. 1725VEI 1Observed
    1725-04-02 – Ongoing
    SW, south and east of Hekla
  12. 1693VEI 4Observed
    1693-02-13 – 1693-09-14
  13. 1636VEI 3Observed
    1636-05-08 – 1637-06
  14. 1597VEI 4Observed
    1597-01-03 – 1597-06
  15. 1554VEI 2Observed
    1554-05 – 1554-06
    SW of Hekla (Raudubjallar)
  16. 1510VEI 4Observed
    1510-07-25 – Ongoing
  17. 1440VEI ?Geological estimate
    1440 – Ongoing
    SE of Hekla
  18. 1389VEI 3Observed
    1389-12-01 – 1390
    Summit ridge, west flank (Raudoldur)
  19. 1341VEI 3Observed
    1341-05-19 – Ongoing
  20. 1300VEI 4Observed
    1300-07-11 – 1301-07
  21. 1222VEI 2Observed
    1222 – Ongoing
  22. 1206VEI 3Observed
    1206-12-04 – Ongoing
  23. 1158VEI 4Observed
    1158-01-19 – Ongoing
  24. 1104VEI 5Observed
    1104-10-15 – Ongoing
  25. 1050 (±500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    1050 – Ongoing
    Austurhraun
  26. 800 (±50 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    800 – Ongoing
    Heklutaglahraun
  27. 750VEI ?Geological estimate
    750 – Ongoing
    Taglgigahraun, Solvahraun, Stakahraun
  28. 650 (±500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    650 – Ongoing
    NE flank (Helliskvislarhraun)
  29. 550 (±1500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    550 – Ongoing
  30. 350 (±1500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    350 – Ongoing
    Vatnafjöll (Eskihlidarhraun)
  31. 250 (±2500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    250 – Ongoing
    NE flank (Hestolduhraun), Vatnafjöll
  32. 150 BCE (±2500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 150 – Ongoing
    Vatnafjöll (Kringluhraun)
  33. 250 BCE (±500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 250 – Ongoing
    NE flank, Vatnafjöll (Langviuhraun)
  34. 650 BCE (±2500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 650 – Ongoing
    Vatnafjöll (Svalaskardshraun)
  35. 750 BCE (±500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 750 – Ongoing
    NE flank, Vatnafjöll (Langviuhraun)
  36. 850 BCE (±1500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 850 – Ongoing
    NE flank (Raudkembingahraun), Vatnafjöll
  37. 1100 BCE (±50 yrs)VEI 5Geological estimate
    BCE 1100 – Ongoing
  38. 1150 BCE (±1500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1150 – Ongoing
    Vatnafjöll (Hraunhalsshraun)
  39. 1250 BCE (±1500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1250 – Ongoing
    NE flank, Vatnafjöll
  40. 1350 BCE (±2500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1350 – Ongoing
    Vatnafjöll
  41. 1550 BCEVEI 4Geological estimate
    BCE 1550 – Ongoing
  42. 1650 BCE (±2500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1650 – Ongoing
    Vatnafjöll
  43. 1750 BCE (±500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1750 – Ongoing
  44. 1850 BCE (±2500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1850 – Ongoing
    NE flank (Krokagilsoduhraun), Vatnafjöll
  45. 2310 BCE (±20 yrs)VEI 5Geological estimate
    BCE 2310 – Ongoing
  46. 2450 BCE (±1500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 2450 – Ongoing
    Vatnafjöll (Reynnisfellshraun)
  47. 2750 BCE (±2500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 2750 – Ongoing
    Vatnafjöll
  48. 2950 BCE (±500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 2950 – Ongoing
    Vatnafjöll (Tröllaskógahraun)
  49. 3350 BCE (±2500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 3350 – Ongoing
    Raudkollar, Vatnafjöll (Grafellshraun)
  50. 3450 BCE (±1500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 3450 – Ongoing
    Vatnafjöll
  51. 3750 BCE (±1500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 3750 – Ongoing
    Vatnafjöll
  52. 3950 BCE (±500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 3950 – Ongoing
    Axarhraun, Vatnafjöll
  53. 4050 BCE (±500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 4050 – Ongoing
    Baejarhraun
  54. 4110 BCE (±100 yrs)VEI 5Geological estimate
    BCE 4110 – Ongoing
  55. 4150 BCE (±2500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 4150 – Ongoing
    Vatnafjöll (Grasleysisfjallahraun)
  56. 4250 BCE (±500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 4250 – Ongoing
    Knafaholdahraun
  57. 4350 BCE (±1500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 4350 – Ongoing
    Vatnafjöll (Lambadalshraun)
  58. 4550 BCE (±500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 4550 – Ongoing
    Krokahraun, Vatnafjöll
  59. 4650 BCE (±500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 4650 – Ongoing
    Gunnarsholtshraun
  60. 4700 BCEVEI 4Geological estimate
    BCE 4700 – Ongoing
  61. 4750 BCE (±2500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 4750 – Ongoing
    Vatnafjöll (west of Laufafell)
  62. 4950 BCE (±2500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 4950 – Ongoing
    Vatnafjöll (Raudölduhraun)
  63. 5050 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 5050 – Ongoing
    Reydarvatnshraun lava flow, Vatnafjöll
  64. 5150 BCEVEI 5Geological estimate
    BCE 5150 – Ongoing
  65. 5850 BCE (±2500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 5850 – Ongoing
    Svinholdahraun

External links

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