Eyjafjallajokull Volcano Facts

The Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland is known to everyone these days because of its most recent eruption in the year 2010. Pronounced as ay-yah-fyah-lah-yoh-kuul, the Eyjafjallajokull is found in the country of Iceland and is one of several ice caps found here. It has been an active volcano since many decades. If you are wondering about the peculiar and unusual name the volcano has, then note that the name is formed due to combination of different words with different meaning. Viz. Eyja meaning island; fjalla meaning mountain; and jokull meaning glacier. Therefore, the name is perfectly suitable for this volcano.

Volcano and its Formation

There are numerous plates beneath the Earth crust, when they move apart cause gaps in between each other. These gaps lead to further rising of the hot molten rock called lava which is found in the Earth's core. If one plate is forced by two other plates, friction is caused which leads to the melting of the first plate. This also leads the magma to rise. This hot lava is thrown up with a lot of force above the Earth's surface, which we see as a volcanic eruption.

There are three types of volcanoes, namely cinder, composite and shield. If you are wondering what type of volcano is Eyjafjallajokull volcano, then note that it is a composite type, also known as the stratovolcano type. These type of volcanoes are generally steep sided and symmetrical cones of large dimensions. The volcanic eruptions from such volcanoes may raise even up to eight thousand feet from their base.

Facts About Eyjafjallajokull Volcano

• It was a dormant volcano since ages, but since it erupted in 2010, it was added to the names of active volcanoes list.
• This volcano was found to have erupted in the years 1821 to 1823.
• But after this, Eyjafjallajokull erupted nearly after 200 hundred years on March 20, 2010.
• Around 3000 earthquakes measuring 2 or less on richter scale were felt by some natives in the nearby areas.
• As mentioned earlier, it is located in the south of Iceland.
• The Eyjafjallajokull crater is about 3 to 4 km wide; whereas the summit is around 5,470 feet.
• This volcano is spread across 39 square miles.
• It is located near one of the most active volcanoes named Katla. But Eyjafjallajokull is found to be lesser powerful or active than Katla.
• One of the most interesting Eyjafjallajokull volcano facts is that the highest ash or air cloud reached a height of 55,000 feet above the ground.
• The fissure of the eruption that took place in March 2010 is around 500 mt long.
• The believed temperature of lava thrown out from this volcano was around 1800 degrees F.
• The impact, or the strength, of this volcano has decreased around 80% from the past eruptions.
• Lastly, as you must have read, the Eyjafjallajokull volcano eruption led to a severe disruption in the air traffic across Europe.

There are many other famous volcanoes with interesting facts to read about. What was surprising was the eruption of this volcano after such a long time. Ciao!