미르달스요쿨(Mýrdalsjökull) 안내. 아이슬란드(Iceland)

미르달스요쿨(Mýrdalsjökull) 안내. 아이슬란드(Iceland)

Katla eruption 1918

 

Mýrdalsjökull Glacier

Mýrdalsjökull glacier is the fourth-largest glacier in Iceland, with a total area of 600 ㎢. It is also Iceland's southernmost glacicer, rising steeply up from the black sands, a short distance from the sea. At 1,300 metres above sea level there is a 60 ㎦ glacial plain, surrounded by peaks that rise up to 1,500 metres. They are Hábunga (1,497 m), Kötlukollar (1,320m), Austmannsbunga (1,377 m) and Goðabunga (1,510 m). Ice boundaries lie high on the edges of the hills and between them are the outlet glaciers Sólheimajökull, Entujökull and Kötlujökull. Surrounding the glacial plain are scattered a number of collapse cauldrons, up to 30 metres deep and a few hundred metres in diameter. They bear witness to the constant geothermal activity at the base.

One of Iceland's most infamous central volcanoes, Katla, is hidden under Mýrdalsjökull glacier. Katla is part of a much larger volcanic system, which is up to 110 km long, covering Eldgjá and almost reaching all the way north to the Vatnajökull glacier. Katla has erupted twenty times since Iceland was settled. These eruptions can cause enormous glacier outburst floods, due to melting of the glacier, and the flood water can reach 100,000 to 300,000 ㎥/s in just a few hours. Since settlement, most glacial outburst floods from Katla have flowed across the outwash plain of Mýrdalssandur. only twice have there been glacial bursts down Sólheimasandur from the glacial tongue of Sólheimajökull. Katla eruptions are often accompanied by deafening thunder and lightning, with sometimes fatal consequences in the surrounding area, and ash fall so dense that men could not see each othe even if they held hands. Additionally, the eruptions release toxic fumes that can be carried long distances by the wind, buth which usually have the greatest impact in the immediate vicinity. Katla has, on average, eurpted twice a century since settlement, last one in 1918.

Computer image of Mýrdalsjökull to above and its bottom to below where the caldera of the Katla volcano can be seen.

Jökulsá River on Sólheimasandur

To the south of Sólheimajökull glacier lie the desert sands of Sólheimasandur, through which runs the glacial river Jökulsá, sometimes referred to as Fúlilækur (Foul Smelling Stream) because of the smell of sulphur that comes from the river. This great sand plain is believed to have been formed in glacial outburst flood from Katla, but there are also legends told about its origin.

The story tells of two men who were skilled in magic, Loðmundur from Sólheimar and his neighbour prasi from Skógar. They were often at odds with each other. Between their lands ran the river which was then called Fulilækur, but later Jökulsá on Sólheimasandur. They took turns diverting ther river into each other's lands as neither wanted to have the river near them. While this was going on, the two men are said to have dwelled where the river fell from a ravine between two ridges, Loðmundur on the east side of the river and þrasi to the west. Due to these diversions and flooding, the plain lost its vegetation and became a desert. Finally. the two neighbours saw the wasteland that was being created. They reached the consensus that the river would flow through the sand at the shortest distance to the sea. And so it came to pass The river, however, remaines to this day extremely rough and choppy, and the story goes that this behaviour is a result of the conflict between þrasi and Loðmundur.

From Islenzkar þjoðsögur og ævintyri by Jón Amason

Jökulsá on Sólheimasand crossed on horseback

Before Jökulsá was bridged in 1921, the river had to be crossed on horseback. The river has always been considered very hard to cross, as it is powerful and rough, and at least 20 people have drowned on their way across the river. Now, travelling over the river is safe and the sand is not as black as before, as farmers and the Soil Conservation Service of Iceland have been cultivating substantial grassland on the sand in order to prevent sand drift.

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