(Note: There are two glaciers named Hofsjökull in Iceland . One is its own large glacier shield right in the geographical center of the country, the second is a former side glacier of Vatnajökull .)

Hofsjökull
Satellite image of Hofsjökull.
Highest point
Elevation1,782 metres (5,846 ft)
Prominence≈1100 m
Coordinates64°49′N 18°49′W / 64.817°N 18.817°W / 64.817; -18.817
Geography
LocationSouthwestern Iceland
Geology
Age of rockHolocene
Mountain typeSubglacial shield volcano with caldera
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", Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈhɔfsˌjœːkʏtl̥] ⓘ) is the third largest ice cap 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 2015, Hofsjökull increased in mass, the first time in 20 years this had happened.[5]

Disambiguation note

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


See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Thordarson & Hoskuldsson, p. 72
  2. ↑ National Land Survey of Iceland (2001), National Land Survey of Iceland – Geographical information, archived from the original on 2010-04-06, retrieved 2008-08-14/
  3. ↑ Thordarson & Hoskuldsson, p. 29
  4. ↑ Thordarson & Hoskuldsson, p. 83
  5. ↑ "Hofsjökull ice cap gains mass | News".

References

  • Thordurson, Thor; Hoskuldsson, Armann (2002), Classic Geology in Europe 3: Iceland, Harpenden, England: Terra Publishing, ISBN 1-903544-06-8
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64°49′N 18°49′W / 64.817°N 18.817°W / 64.817; -18.817

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