Katla Geopark. 아이슬란드(Iceland)

Katla Geopark. 아이슬란드(Iceland)

katlageopark.com

Katla Geopark

Katla geopark includes geological features of global significance. Over 150 volcanic eruptions have been recorded in the area since the 9th century. The eruptions created the landscape and influenced where people settled. Through the centuries, man and nature have affected the regions's history. The landscapes is constantly changing due to the volcanic activity.

The Geopark covers about 9% of Iceland, 9542 ㎢, and follows the borders of three municipalities, Skaftárhreppur, Mýrdalshreppur and Rangárþing eystra. About 2700 people live within the Geopark. Traditional agriculture has been the main source of employment, especially sheep and dairy farming. Cereal farming has recently increased. The villages of Hvolsvöllur, Vik and Kirkjubæjarklaustur developed as service centers for farmers. In recent years tourism has become increasingly important to the economy of the area.

Geology

Iceland lies astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where tectonic plates move apart from each other, causing a rift zone. A mantle plume exists below the country, centered beneath Vatnajökull ice cap. In South Iceland the interaction of the rift zone and the mantle plume result in complex and diverse volcanic activity.

Volcanic activity and its widespread effect on the area's nature and landscape make Katla Geopark unique. The Geopark is in the most volcanically active area of Iceland, and the volcanic systems at Eyjafjallajökull, Katla, and Grimsvötn are particularly active. The region is characterised by central volcanoes, eruptive craters and fissures, rootless cones, lava field, table mountains (tuyas), and hyaloclastite ridges which trend SWNE, like the rift zone.

Ice caps are prominent in the landscape, topping the highest volcanoes. Outlet glaciers and glacial rivers flow from them and glacial landforms, like moraines and ice-dammed lakes, occur in the area. Large floods, usually glacier outbursts associated with subglacial eruptions, have formed outwash plains in the lowlands. The oldest bedrock in the area is about 2.5 million years old, and can be found at the base of Lómagnúpur, and old sea-cliff (671 m). Other interesting features in the Geopark are fossil-bearing xenoliths, and tephra layers which are useful for dating (tephrochronology)

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