Iceland

Trek Origin of Earth

A great trek crossing the volcanic belt from Mount Hekla to the Eldgja fissure.

Date: 7-19 July 2013 | All overnight in huts, except day 2.
Map: see below in the gallery.

Itinerary

1. From Hella to Fljotshlio, along the river Ytri Ranga. 14 km. Night at Foss.

2. The Hekla Baeir moors. 12 km. Camping at Melakot.

3. Old Hekla farmlands. 13 km. Night at Rjupnavellir.

4. Hekla western flank. 20 km. Night at Afangagil.

5. Via the fault of Valagja towards Mount Loomundur, 20 km. Night at Landmannahellir.

6. Ride to Landmannalaugar and hike back to Landmannahellir. 14 km.

7. Resting day in Landmannahellir, climbing Mount Loomundur. 8 km.

8. Hike to Hrafntinnusker, visit‘  a caldera and geothermal area. 25km. Night at Dalakofinn.

9. From Hrafntinnusker through the Markarflot canyon to Hvanngi­l. 19 km. Night at Hvanngill.

10. Crossong the desert of Maelifellssandur, north of Katla. 20 km. Night at Strutsskali.

11. Visit of Strutslaug hot springs at Holmsarlon lake. Climbing Strutur mountain. 11 + 8 km. Night at Strutsskali..

12. Passing Strutslaug and a long hike to Holarskjoll at the Eldgja fault. 33 km. Night at Holarskjoll cabin.

13. Visit of the Eldgja fault and waterfall and drie back via Vik to Reykjavik.

 

After this trek I visited Snaefellsnes peninsula for 3 days and made a trip to the famous volcanic region of Geysir, Krisuvuk and off course the waterfall of Gulfoss and Icelands founding site Thingvellir.

south of Langjokull

To the galleries

 

Additional information

There are around 30 volcanic systems in Iceland, broadly divided into three types:

  • Strato volcanoes, e.g. Eyjafjallajokull, Torfajokull, Snaefellsjokull. These are volcanic systems which erupt repeatedly over thousands, even millions of years and build up substantial mountains, topped by a crater. Hekla is a strato volcano, but differs from the others in that it is formed along a ridge.
  • Central volcanoes, with an underlying magma chamber, which feeds surrounding fissure swarms, e.g. Krafla, Askja, Gri­msvatn, Katla. Calderas are often present, forming when subsidence follows sudden emptying of the magma chamber, whose roof collapses.
  • Fissure swarms and crater rows, e.g. Eldvorp on Reykjanes these are often associated with central volcanoes.

Each volcanic system can be as many as tens of kilometres in length and several kilometres wide.

Some explanatory maps:

Here are some nice links on locations and geology of Iceland.

Gri¦navatn – Explosion craters | Iceland Geosurvey
Seltun – High temperature area with solfaratas | Iceland Geosurvey
Eldgja, de vulkaan Katla en Gullfoss op IJsland.
Geology of Thingvellir
GEOLOGY VOLCANOES PLATE TECTONICS ICELAND
Hellisheidarvirkjun Geothermal Power Station | Hengill geothermal area | Geothermal Power South Iceland IAT-SIA – Iceland
Iceland Volcano Guide: an overview of volcanic activity and geology
Icelandic Landscapes | Christopher Lund
Katla | Katla, Mirrdalsjokull, Millidalssandur
Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant, Iceland Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant
Quakes and Other Events – Geological Phenomena
Volcano Video HQ: Iceland

National Land Survey of Iceland – Map viewer
Fjallabak – Behind the mountains – Trekking and Adventures trips in Iceland
Fjallabak Nature Reserve
Grundarfjordur Hostel – Iceland – Book with Hostelling International
HIKING TRAIL ROUTE HELLISMANNALEID IN THE LANDMANNALAUGAR AREA IN ICELAND
Holaskjol-cabins
afangagil-cabins
rjupnavellir-cabins
landmannahellir domadalur Route
Nesjavellir – Wikipedia
Origin of Earth-zomer 2013
Snaefellsjokull National Park – Umhverfisstofnun Summer Fun – Laki Tours
UTIVIST DALAKOFINN HUT SOUTHERN ICELAND INTERIOR CENTRAL HIGHLANDS

 

 

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