A new large and beautiful ice cave has recently been discovered in Blágnípujökull glacier, one of the outlet glaciers of Hofsjökull glacier. The Icelandic Meteorological Office has issued a warning to people not to enter the cave without a gas detector as elevated levels of poisonous hydrogen sulfide, H2S have been detected in the cave. The poisonous gases are produced by the same subglacial geothermal activity which created the cave.
The cave was discovered late last year by the staff at Kerlingafjöll Central Highland Center. It is estimated that in the 11 weeks since the cave was discovered it has been visited by at least 1,000 hikers.
Formed last fall
The IMO believes the cave was most likely created last fall in connection with a small glacial outburst flood. The area is known for geothermal activity. Scientists believe the geothermal activity in the region could easily increase, destabilizing the cave as well as raising the level of poisonous hydrogen sylfide in the cave. Some parts of the cave roof seems to be unstable. People should under no circumstances enter the cave without an experienced guide and a gas detector.
The National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports that a group of mountaineers explored the cave earlier this month. The group found that the cave extended 150 m (490 ft) beneath the glacier. A strong smell of sulfur filled the cave, a sure sign of significant geothermal activity. The strength of H2S in the cave exceeded 60 ppm. H2S gas can cause respiratory problems at this level, and cause permanent damage to eyes if people spend more than one hour in the gas.
7 year old narrowly escaped
Several groups have visited the cave since it was discovered. A man who recently visited the cave told RÚV that a 7 year old girl which was there with her family passed out due to the gas.
We were walking with a large group in the cave, taking photographs, when the seven year old girl sits down on a ledge. Her mother notices that the girl is not doing well, and asks her if she wants to come out of the cave. She takes her eyes off the girl for one moment, and when she looks back the girl had passed out. You could only see the white in her eyes, and she was emitting this raspy sound because she obviously had trouble breathing.
We grabbed her by the arms and ran out with her. When we were about half way out of the cave she suddenly looks at her father and asks why we were running with her. She had obviously come back to when she made it to more oxygen.
The cave can only be accessed by foot or especially equipped mountain trucks. RÚV reports that several tours, each with dozens of people, visit the cave each day.
Experts who spoke to RÚV said there was no immediate reason to close the cave to traffic, but that people should show extreme caution. Ice caves are always unstable because the glaciers they are formed in are on the move. The cave in Blágnípujökull is also dangerous due to the poisonous gas. People should not enter the cave alone or without a gas detector
A new large and beautiful ice cave has recently been discovered in Blágnípujökull glacier, one of the outlet glaciers of Hofsjökull glacier. The Icelandic Meteorological Office has issued a warning to people not to enter the cave without a gas detector as elevated levels of poisonous hydrogen sulfide, H2S have been detected in the cave. The poisonous gases are produced by the same subglacial geothermal activity which created the cave.
The cave was discovered late last year by the staff at Kerlingafjöll Central Highland Center. It is estimated that in the 11 weeks since the cave was discovered it has been visited by at least 1,000 hikers.
Formed last fall
The IMO believes the cave was most likely created last fall in connection with a small glacial outburst flood. The area is known for geothermal activity. Scientists believe the geothermal activity in the region could easily increase, destabilizing the cave as well as raising the level of poisonous hydrogen sylfide in the cave. Some parts of the cave roof seems to be unstable. People should under no circumstances enter the cave without an experienced guide and a gas detector.
The National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports that a group of mountaineers explored the cave earlier this month. The group found that the cave extended 150 m (490 ft) beneath the glacier. A strong smell of sulfur filled the cave, a sure sign of significant geothermal activity. The strength of H2S in the cave exceeded 60 ppm. H2S gas can cause respiratory problems at this level, and cause permanent damage to eyes if people spend more than one hour in the gas.
7 year old narrowly escaped
Several groups have visited the cave since it was discovered. A man who recently visited the cave told RÚV that a 7 year old girl which was there with her family passed out due to the gas.
We were walking with a large group in the cave, taking photographs, when the seven year old girl sits down on a ledge. Her mother notices that the girl is not doing well, and asks her if she wants to come out of the cave. She takes her eyes off the girl for one moment, and when she looks back the girl had passed out. You could only see the white in her eyes, and she was emitting this raspy sound because she obviously had trouble breathing.
We grabbed her by the arms and ran out with her. When we were about half way out of the cave she suddenly looks at her father and asks why we were running with her. She had obviously come back to when she made it to more oxygen.
The cave can only be accessed by foot or especially equipped mountain trucks. RÚV reports that several tours, each with dozens of people, visit the cave each day.
Experts who spoke to RÚV said there was no immediate reason to close the cave to traffic, but that people should show extreme caution. Ice caves are always unstable because the glaciers they are formed in are on the move. The cave in Blágnípujökull is also dangerous due to the poisonous gas. People should not enter the cave alone or without a gas detector
