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22-544: Straumsvík ( Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈstrœymsˌviːk] , "stream cove") is a harbour on the northern shore of the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland . 64°02′42″N 22°02′35″W  /  64.045°N 22.043°W  / 64.045; -22.043 This article about a fjord in Iceland is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Reykjanes Peninsula The region has

44-431: A ca. 45° angle to the direction of rifting , scientists define this as an oblique arrangement. The volcanic systems of Reykjanes, Brennisteinsfjöll included, are stretched out in northeast-southwesterly direction over the rift on the peninsula. The volcanic system of Brennisteinsfjöll is 45 km (28 mi) long, has a width of about 10 km (6.2 mi) and covers about 280 km (110 sq mi). Most to

66-439: A few acres, and two more areas show signs of hydrothermal alteration. The surface conditions are complicated with a rough lava surface and the geothermal features which are located at a height of 450–500 m (1,480–1,640 ft) can only be reached on foot. The stratigraphy of the region includes hyaloclastite, older and younger lava flows. In a fault, not far from Grindarskörð [ˈkrɪntarˌskœrθ] , there are traces of

88-469: A former geothermal area which is no more active. As the name (Brennisteinsfjöll = Sulfur Mountains) suggests, sulfur is found here, though today in small amounts. But in the 19th century, a sulfur mine was run in the region by people from the United Kingdom. Mining was carried out just til the 1880s. The mine was situated in a lava slope. The sulfur “was deposited into holes and fractures in

110-564: A magmatic hot spot under the island which stands for increased magma production. Brennisteinsfjöll is one of four (some scientists say five) volcanic systems on the big peninsula of Reykjanes in Southwest Iceland, as such the system forms part of the Reykjanes Volcanic Belt . These others are: Reykjanes volcanic system , around Gunnuhver at the tip of the peninsula, which mostly includes Svartsengi with

132-504: A population of 27,829 (2020) and is one of the more densely populated parts of the island. The administrative centre is Keflavík , which had 7,000 residents when it merged with the nearby town of Njarðvík and Hafnir in 1995 to create Reykjanesbær , which is the largest settlement outside the Greater Reykjavík area; in 2018 the region had a population of 17,805. The region is the location of Keflavík International Airport ,

154-533: A volcano-tectonic fissure system and – very often a bigger volcano, a so-called central volcano which in most cases is a stratovolcano and may contain a caldera . Brennisteinsfjöll does not include such a central volcano. The existence of the fissure systems in Iceland is explained by its situation, located on top of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge , a divergent plate boundary . There is most probably also

176-409: Is a geothermal power station at Svartsengi . Near the power station a luxury spa and pool area has been installed using the hot and mineralized water coming down from the power station; it is known as the " Blue Lagoon " ( Bláa Lónið ). The Bridge Between Continents spans the Álfagjá [ˈaulvaˌcauː] rift valley (60 feet (18 m) wide and 20 feet (6.1 m) deep) near Grindavík, which

198-544: Is a minor volcanic system , with crater rows and small shield volcanoes on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland . The mountain range is located at about 20 to 25 km (12 to 16 mi) from Reykjavík as well as Hafnarfjörður and to the south of the cities on the Reykjanes peninsula of Southwest Iceland. Brennisteinfjöll is not high. The highest mountain is Vífilsfell with 655 m. In Iceland there are about 32 volcanic systems. Volcanic system means

220-634: Is promoted to tourists as marking the boundary between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates . It was built in 2002 and previously named Leif the Lucky bridge in honor of Icelandic explorer Leif Eriksson who traveled from Europe to America nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus . A great deal of volcanic unrest was occurring in this part of the Reykjanes Peninsula from 2020 onward, after nearly 800 years of inactivity. After

242-557: Is the word for sulfur on Iceland, so great sulfur emissions with worldwide cooling for some years are possible and quite normal by this volcanic system. Most of its rocks consist of basalt . There is a high temperature geothermal area in Brennisteinsfjöll, but it is rather remote, about 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Reykjavík in the inner part of the Reykjavík peninsula. Fumaroles are to be found within an area of

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264-523: The Hengill volcanic system, the most eastern system, has an additional central volcano , but this is outside the Southern Peninsula. Tephra deposits from offshore explosive Holocene eruptions have been preserved on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Brennisteinsfj%C3%B6ll Brennisteinsfjöll ( Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈprɛnːɪˌsteinsˌfjœtl̥] , "Sulfur mountains" )

286-482: The Reykjanes , Svartsengi , Fagradalsfjall , Krýsuvík , Brennisteinsfjöll , and Hengill volcanic systems). These are closely spaced en-echelon fissure systems, extending across the Reykjanes Peninsula. ). Each volcanic system on the peninsula consists of (volcanic and tectonic) fissures and faults directed mostly NE-SW and may have other features such as lava fields and postglacial basaltic crater rows. Only

308-581: The geothermal power station and the Blue Lagoon ; to the east of the Reykjanes system is the Krýsuvík (volcanic system) , including the geothermal areas around Seltún , Krýsuvík and Trölladyngja (Reykjanes) as well as lake Kleifarvatn ; and to the northeast of the Brennisteinsfjöll lies the Hengill volcanic system which reaches out to the northeast over the lake Þingvallavatn to Þingvellir . These volcanic systems are arranged en echelon and in

330-499: The Þríhnúkagígar crater trio – now famous because it is possible to see a magmatic feeder system from the inside -, and some craters named Eldborg (e.g. Eldborg í Bláfjöllum and Stóra-Eldborg undir Geitahlíð ). The rootless cones of Rauðhólar near Reykjavík are also connected to a lava flow from this volcanic system. Some protected areas are to be found in the region of Brennisteinsfjöll. These are Herdísarvík Nature Reserve, Reykjanes Country Park, Bláfjöll Country Park and

352-524: The declaration of a state of emergency over the threat of an imminent volcanic eruption, culminating in the 2023-2024 Sundhnúkur eruptions . The Southern Peninisula contains the south western portion of the Reykjanes volcanic belt, where the continuation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and its submarine Reykjanes Ridge with the transitional Eldey volcanic system , rise above sea level. The Reykjanes volcanic belt has between 3 and 6 volcanic systems (depending on author -see map for 6 system on land classification of

374-472: The eruption of the Fagradalsfjall volcano started on 19 March 2021, National Geographic 's experts predicted that this "may mark the start of decades of volcanic activity". The eruption was small, leading to a prediction that this volcano was unlikely to threaten "any population centers". In November 2023, a new bout of seismic activity occurred around Grindavík, prompting the town's evacuation and

396-407: The lava and between lava layers”. It was therefore difficult to reach and mine. The miners had first to break up the lava to get to the sulfur. The current geothermal activity is above this area. The place of the former mine can be found by hiking the old trail Selvogsgata [ˈsɛlˌvɔksˌkaːta] and the following the so-called Draugahlíðar [ˈtrœyːɣaˌl̥iːðar̥] between the lava and

418-462: The major point of entry for Iceland. Some fishing towns, such as Grindavík , Njarðvík and Sandgerði , are situated on the peninsula. The peninsula is marked by active volcanism under its surface and large lava fields, allowing little vegetation. There are numerous hot springs in the southern half of the peninsula, around the Kleifarvatn lake and the Krýsuvík geothermal area. There

440-545: The slope. There are still some ruins of the former mine and traces of transportation paths. Part of the Brennisteinsfjöll volcanic system are the Brennisteinsfjöll themselves (up on Hellisheiði ), not really a mountain range, more some hills and crater rows, and the Bláfjöll mountain massif. The system includes two shield volcanoes , Heiðin há and Leitin . Among the many smaller subglacial mounds , tuyas , craters and eruptive vents are Stóra-Kóngsfell , Drottning ,

462-565: The south are the Stóra Eldborg crater row and to the north Nyðri Eldborg . The volcanic system was the most productive of all the volcanic systems of the Reykjanes peninsula during the Holocene with 30-40 eruptions and around 10 since the settlement of Iceland in the 9th century. One of the bigger lava flows of the system run south from Brennisteinsfjöll to the coast at Herdísarvík bay forming lava falls on their way. Previously it

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484-530: Was thought that this lava flow had ceased before the settlement of Iceland (i.e. the end of the 8th century), but this is now thought that this was not the case as the coastal trail (now Route 42) was covered in lava at one stage. The last eruption in the Brennisteinsfjöll volcanic system was a VEI -2 eruption in 1341. It is a possible cause of St. Mary Magdalene’s flood 1342 in Central Europe und following bad years with Black Death to 1350. Brennisstein

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