Age: 2,800 years
Height: 660 ft (200 m)
Width: 1 mile (1.6 km)
Hverfjall Crater is a massive cone like geologic structure in Iceland. Hverfjall Crater was formed 2800 years ago after an eruption of a volcano. It measure about 1 mile (1.6 km) in diameter and its walls reach a height of 660 ft (200 m). Many tourists flock here to make a beautiful picture of the Hverfjall Crater that stands out barren, but picturesque and highly unusual landscape. It has two paths that lead to the rim of the Hverfjall Crater. Local regulations are pretty strict about about staying on the trail given the soil highly unstable. Venturing off beaten path might be risky and fairly dangerous.
Formation of the crater
It formed around 2,500
years ago in huge water vapor explosions that were triggered when
hot magma hit groundwater. The lava has solidified glassy due to
water vapor. At the edge of a mighty column of water vapor, in which
nothing could sink, volcanic loose material trickled down, forming
this ring with a diameter of 1 km and a height of 90–150 m. Many of
the innumerable layers were created by pyroclastic flows. The total
volume of the ejected material was approx. 250 million m³.
More craters of this type
Only a few craters of this type exist
on Earth. The somewhat smaller Lúdent is about 4 km southeast of
Hverfjall. Other examples are the Diamond Head and the Koko Head in
Hawaii or some specimens in the Fort Rock Basin in Oregon, USA.
Hiking trails on Hverfjall
The ring wall of Hverfjall can be
climbed on two marked hiking trails. These must not be left in order
not to destroy this sensitive geological tuff formation.