Prestahnukur

Fissure vent(s) in Iceland

Last Eruption: -3350

Key Facts

Elevation

1,385 m (4,544 ft)

Type

Fissure vent(s)

Location

64.583°, -20.666°

Region

Iceland Neovolcanic Rift Volcanic Province

Rock Type

Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone

Location

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Overview

The Prestahnúkur volcanic system is located on the W side of the Langjökull icecap at the west margin of the Western Volcanic Zone, and overlaps with the Hengill volcanic system north of Lake Þingvallavatn. It is about 90 km long and 15 km wide, with a subglacially erupted rhyolite peak and associated rift zones to the N and SW that have erupted during the Holocene. A large part of the volcanic system is underlain by early to mid Pleistocene plateau basalts.

Olivine tholeiite basalt lava shields have erupted during the Holocene.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

Risk Level

Population at RiskModerate

Infrastructure RiskModerate

Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary

Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Silica Content

Low (45-52% SiO₂)

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone

Continental rift or intraplate setting with varied eruptive styles.

Age & Formation

Epoch

Holocene

Evidence

Eruption Dated

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

Metric	Value	Global Ranking	Significance
Total Recorded Eruptions	Unknown	Low	Moderately active volcano
Maximum VEI	VEI Unknown	Minor	Local impact potential
Recent Activity	5376 years ago	Historical	Historically active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program

International eruption database

Current Status

Normal

No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

Nearby Volcanoes in Atlantic Ocean Volcanic Regions

Regional Volcanic Activity

The Atlantic Ocean Volcanic Regions contains multiple active volcanic systems. Cross-regional magma interactions and tectonic stresses can influence eruption patterns across the entire arc. Monitor regional seismic activity and volcanic alerts.