Vatnafjöll
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Vatnafjöll (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈvahtnaˌfjœtl̥] ⓘ) is a 40 km (25 mi) long, 9 km (6 mi) wide basaltic fissure vent system that is south-east of Hekla, Iceland. It includes from the north towards the south the hills of Innri-Vatnafjöll at 1,089 m (3,573 ft) high, Fremri-Vatnafjöll at 901 m (2,956 ft) and Vatnafjallarani at 574 m (1,883 ft) as the main Vatnafjöll edifice,[1] at a distance of about 7 km (4.3 mi) from Hekla.[2]: 1151 It is part of the same system as Hekla,[3] and the term Hekla-Vatnafjöll volcanic system has been used to describe it.[4] More than two dozen eruptions have occurred at Vatnafjöll during the Holocene Epoch. Vatnafjöll has not erupted during the last 1100 years.[5]: 4313 While these eruptions were predominantly effusive some basaltic tephra deposits have been found up to 40–50 km (25–31 mi) away.[6]
| Vatnafjöll | |
|---|---|
  Vatnafjöll Location within Iceland | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,235 m (4,052 ft) |
| Coordinates | 63°55′12″N 19°40′12″W |
| Geography | |
| Location | Iceland |
| Geology | |
| Rock age | Tephrochronology |
| Fissure vents of Hekla | |
| Last eruption | 1200 years ago |
A Mw 5.9 with an epicenter near the main Vatnafjöll edifice occurred on 25th May, 1987,[5]: 4313 where the transform South Iceland seismic zone meets the East volcanic zone of Iceland. Later analysis has suggested that initiation was from strain relief but a subsurface dyke intrusion then occurred over the next 3 days.[2]: 1161