An intense earthquake swarm has shaken the Bláfjöll mountain range since early morning. This is the second intense earthquake swarm in the past week in the mountains, which are home to the most popular ski-area in Iceland and dominate the view to the East of Reykjavík./p>
An example of the forces tearing Iceland apart
The swarm, which began yesterday evening, counts more than 50 tremors. None of the quakes has been larger than 3 on the Richter scale. The largest, a 2.9 magnitude quake took place at half past six on Sunday evening. According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office the epicenter of the quakes is at a depth of 5-8 km (3.1-5 miles).
The seismic activity is most likely caused by the releasing of tension caused by the drifting apart of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates along the Reykjanes Volcanic Belt. The last major earthquake to hit the mountains was a 5.4 magnitude quake on June 17 2000.
Read more: Why the constant earthquakes? Iceland is slowly being torn apart
The Bláfjöll mountain range, located 20 km (12.4 miles) South East of Reykjavík, are one of the mountains which dominate the view east from Reykjavík. Driving along the Ring Road to South Iceland the mountains flank the view to the South. Their name translates as Blue Mountains. The highest peak of the mountains measures 702 m (2303 ft).
An intense earthquake swarm has shaken the Bláfjöll mountain range since early morning. This is the second intense earthquake swarm in the past week in the mountains, which are home to the most popular ski-area in Iceland and dominate the view to the East of Reykjavík./p>
An example of the forces tearing Iceland apart
The swarm, which began yesterday evening, counts more than 50 tremors. None of the quakes has been larger than 3 on the Richter scale. The largest, a 2.9 magnitude quake took place at half past six on Sunday evening. According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office the epicenter of the quakes is at a depth of 5-8 km (3.1-5 miles).
The seismic activity is most likely caused by the releasing of tension caused by the drifting apart of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates along the Reykjanes Volcanic Belt. The last major earthquake to hit the mountains was a 5.4 magnitude quake on June 17 2000.
Read more: Why the constant earthquakes? Iceland is slowly being torn apart
The Bláfjöll mountain range, located 20 km (12.4 miles) South East of Reykjavík, are one of the mountains which dominate the view east from Reykjavík. Driving along the Ring Road to South Iceland the mountains flank the view to the South. Their name translates as Blue Mountains. The highest peak of the mountains measures 702 m (2303 ft).
