Tungnafellsjokull
Stratovolcano in Iceland
Key Facts
Elevation
1,523 m (4,997 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
64.750°, -17.916°
Region
Iceland Neovolcanic Rift Volcanic Province
Rock Type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Tectonic Setting
Rift zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
The Tungnafellsjökull central volcano, located immediately NW of the massive Vatnajökull icecap, contains two calderas. One is largely filled by the Tungnafellsjökull glacier, and the other ice-free caldera located to the SE contains Pleistocene rhyolitic lavas. The volcano is largely of Pleistocene age, but postglacial flank fissures on the NE side have produced young basalts.
The Hágöngur central volcano to the SW is part of this volcanic system.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
- Pyroclastic flows
- Lava flows
- Volcanic bombs and ballistics
- Lahars and mudflows
Risk Level
Geological Composition & Structure
Rock Types
Tectonic Setting
Age & Formation
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 | Unknown | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Atlantic Ocean Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 373040
- •Evidence: Evidence Credible
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The Tungnafellsjökull central volcano lies immediately to the NW of the massive Vatnajökull icecap. The ~ 4 x 9 km summit caldera is largely filled by the Tungnafellsjökull glacier (center). An ice-free caldera to the SE, Vonarskarð, measures about 8 km in diameter; the caldera rim is visible in this image as a ridge at top left.
Photo by Oddur Sigurdsson, 1986 (Icelandic National Energy Authority).
Authority Sources
Related Volcanoes
Basic Information
This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.