The glacial outburst flood which broke out from beneath Vatnajökull glacier into the river Skaftá last week reached its maximum over the weekend. The glacial outburst flood was the largest on record from the eastern Skáftárkatlar caldera. During its peak the volume of water in Skaftá river topped 3000 cubic metres per second (106,000 cubic feet).
Ring road was spared, smaller back roads not
While smaller back roads were washed away by the flood, which also threatened several bridges in the area, it did not engulf the ring road. The ring road and its bridges are specifically designed to withstand these kinds of catastrophic floods. However, over long stretches of the road the water reached within inches of the road, engulfing the sands and lava fields on both sides of the road.
Read more: See aerial photographs of the dramatic glacial outburst flood as it sweeps away roads
The Icelandic Road Administration has yet to assess the condition of the Eldvötn bridge to determine if it is safe and can be repaired.
Lava fields turned into vast sand- and mudflats
The power of the flood also washed away river banks and huge amounts of earth, completely altering the landscape along the river, changing its path north of the ring road. The flood also flattened rough lava fields in its way, turning them into flatlands, the local news site visir.is reports.
Huge quantities of sand and clay were carried by the floodwaters. This material has been left in a thick layer in areas covered by the flood. In some areas rough lava fields have been replaced by flat mud and sand flats. As the sand and clay dries it is easily blown up by the wind, creating material for dust storms.
The glacial outburst flood which broke out from beneath Vatnajökull glacier into the river Skaftá last week reached its maximum over the weekend. The glacial outburst flood was the largest on record from the eastern Skáftárkatlar caldera. During its peak the volume of water in Skaftá river topped 3000 cubic metres per second (106,000 cubic feet).
Ring road was spared, smaller back roads not
While smaller back roads were washed away by the flood, which also threatened several bridges in the area, it did not engulf the ring road. The ring road and its bridges are specifically designed to withstand these kinds of catastrophic floods. However, over long stretches of the road the water reached within inches of the road, engulfing the sands and lava fields on both sides of the road.
Read more: See aerial photographs of the dramatic glacial outburst flood as it sweeps away roads
The Icelandic Road Administration has yet to assess the condition of the Eldvötn bridge to determine if it is safe and can be repaired.
Lava fields turned into vast sand- and mudflats
The power of the flood also washed away river banks and huge amounts of earth, completely altering the landscape along the river, changing its path north of the ring road. The flood also flattened rough lava fields in its way, turning them into flatlands, the local news site visir.is reports.
Huge quantities of sand and clay were carried by the floodwaters. This material has been left in a thick layer in areas covered by the flood. In some areas rough lava fields have been replaced by flat mud and sand flats. As the sand and clay dries it is easily blown up by the wind, creating material for dust storms.
