Öræfajökull is an ice covered volcano at the southern extremity of Vatnajökull glacier.
It’s the largest active volcano in Iceland, and on its-north western rim is Hvannadalshnjúkur, the highest peak in the country. Öræfajökull is a stratovolcano. It is believed to the second largest of its type in Europe. Only Ætna on the island of Sicily is larger.
The volcano has erupted twice in recorded history, in 1362 and in 1727. In 1362, the volcano erupted explosively, with huge amounts of tephra being ejected. Flood and tephra fall destroyed the district of Litla-Hérað. More than 40 years passed before people settled the area again, which then became known as Öræfi. The name literally means “an area without harbour”, but it has taken on the meaning “wasteland” in Icelandic.
Öræfajökull treks
Early documents provide evidence of travel over the Vatnajökull ice cap from north to south and vice versa, but there are no descriptions of ventures onto Öræfajökull until 1794 when Sveinn Pálsson trekked up onto the mountains from Kvískerjar.
During his trip, he discovered the reason for the formation of glaciers. (He was probably the first person to do so in the world.) He also noted glaciers’ movement as a viscous material that creeps forward due to the effects of gravity. He noticed ash layers in the glacier where it broke from the edge of the summit on its way down, which helped him draw the correct conclusions.
The mountain and surrounding areas offer good skiing in winter, and they are very popular with walkers and hikers throughout the year.
