Hofsjökull

(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
Elevation	1,782 metres (5,846 ft)
Prominence	≈1100 m
Coordinates	64°49′N 18°49′W
Geography
Location	Southwestern Iceland
Geology
Age of rock	Holocene
Mountain type	Subglacial 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. 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. The subglacial volcano is a shield type with caldera.

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

In 2015, Hofsjökull increased in mass, the first time in 20 years this had happened.

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

• Glaciers of Iceland
• Iceland plume
• Volcanism of Iceland
  • List of volcanic eruptions in Iceland
  • List of volcanoes in Iceland

References

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

External links

• Hofsjökull in the Catalogue of Icelandic Volcanoes
• (Photo)
• "Hofsjökull". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2021-06-25.