| Katla | |
|---|---|
 The Mýrdalsjökull glacier |
|
| Elevation | 1,512 m (4,961 ft) [1] |
| Location | |
  Katla
|
|
| Coordinates | 63°38′N 19°03′W / 63.633°N 19.05°WCoordinates: 63°38′N 19°03′W / 63.633°N 19.05°W |
| Geology | |
| Type | Subglacial volcano |
| Last eruption | 1918 |
The Katla volcano has a reputation as one of the most dangerous volcanoes of Iceland. It is situated to the north of Vík í Mýrdal and to the east of the smaller Eyjafjallajökull glacier. Its peak reaches 1,512 metres (4,961 ft) in height and is partially covered by the Mýrdalsjökull glacier with an area of 595 km².
The crater of the volcano has a diameter of 10 km and the volcano normally erupts every 40–80 years. The last major eruption occurred in 1918, although there may have been a small eruption in 1955.[1] Since 930, 16 eruptions have been documented. The Laki craters and the Eldgjá are part of the same volcanic system, so it can be regarded as one of the most powerful in the world. It is thought that Katla is the source of the Vedde Ash (tephra dated to 10,600 years BP[2]) found at a number of sites including Norway, Scotland and North Atlantic cores.
Before the hringvegur (Iceland's road no.1) was constructed, people feared traversing the plains in front of the volcano because of the frequent glacier outburst floods and the deep river crossings. Especially dangerous was the glacier outburst that followed the eruption of 1918. Katla has been showing signs of unrest since 1999 and geologists have concerns that it might erupt in the near future.[3] At the peak of the 1755 eruption the flood discharge has been estimated between 200,000–400,000 m³/s; for comparison the combined average discharge of the Amazon, Mississippi, Nile, and Yangtze rivers is about 290,000 m³/s.[citation needed]
   | Photo of Mýrdalsjökull - Photo Mýrdalsjökull |
| | webcam of Katla - Vefmyndavél við Kötlu |
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