The largest crater formed during the ongoing Holuhraun eruption, central Iceland, has reached a height of 100 metres (328 ft). Over the course of five weeks a large lava flow field with crater rows, cinders and cones has formed in the area.
The crater has been given the name Baugur, which translates to “circle”, and according to volcanologist Ármann Höskuldsson, it has slowly but steadily become a mountain.
“We can only guesstimate the caldera’s exact size. We think it’s currently around 100 metres (328 ft) high. It’s become a very handsome crater,” Ármann explained in an interview with Fréttablaðið newspaper yesterday.
The row of craters that formed on each side of Baugur is known as Suðri (Southerner), Krakkinn (The Kid), Heimasætan (The Maid) and Norðri (Northerner).
Although the eruption continues at a steady rate, people have begun to feel the need to name the new mountain and craters. In a letter to the Institute of Earth Science one person suggests the lava field be named Nornahraun (Witches Lava Field) instead of Holuhraun due to the natural phenomenon Pele’s hair, that has been found in abundance in the eruption site. The phenomenon is called Nornahár (Witch’s hair) in Icelandic.
The largest crater formed during the ongoing Holuhraun eruption, central Iceland, has reached a height of 100 metres (328 ft). Over the course of five weeks a large lava flow field with crater rows, cinders and cones has formed in the area.
The crater has been given the name Baugur, which translates to “circle”, and according to volcanologist Ármann Höskuldsson, it has slowly but steadily become a mountain.
“We can only guesstimate the caldera’s exact size. We think it’s currently around 100 metres (328 ft) high. It’s become a very handsome crater,” Ármann explained in an interview with Fréttablaðið newspaper yesterday.
The row of craters that formed on each side of Baugur is known as Suðri (Southerner), Krakkinn (The Kid), Heimasætan (The Maid) and Norðri (Northerner).
Although the eruption continues at a steady rate, people have begun to feel the need to name the new mountain and craters. In a letter to the Institute of Earth Science one person suggests the lava field be named Nornahraun (Witches Lava Field) instead of Holuhraun due to the natural phenomenon Pele’s hair, that has been found in abundance in the eruption site. The phenomenon is called Nornahár (Witch’s hair) in Icelandic.
