SUNDHNUKSGIGAR - GEOGRAPHY
News: Volcano in Iceland erupts: Why
is the country so volcanically active?
What's in the news?
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A volcano in southwest Iceland eruptions leading to
evacuations of the small fishing town of Grindavik and the popular geothermal
Blue Lagoon spa.
Sundhnuksgigar:
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Sundhnuksgigar, a volcano situated south of Reykjavik, Iceland, has erupted for the
fifth time since December last year, making headlines due to its increasing
activity.
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The eruption took place not long after the end of
an eight-week long eruption that occurred between Hagafell and Stora-Skogfell
on the same Reykjavik peninsula.
Iceland and Volcanic
Eruptions:
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Iceland, one of the most volcanically active
regions on Earth, typically experiences an eruption
every four to five years.
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However, since 2021, the frequency of eruptions has
surged to nearly one per year. This uptick in activity is significant,
highlighting the dynamic nature of Iceland’s geological landscape.
Reasons for Increasing
Volcanic Eruptions:
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The heightened volcanic activity in Iceland is
attributed to its location on the Mid-Atlantic
Ridge, the longest mountain range in the world, situated in the North
Atlantic Ocean.
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Here, the Eurasian
and North American tectonic plates are diverging at a rate of a few
centimeters annually.
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Additionally, Iceland lies over a hotspot, which further intensifies
volcanic activity.
Go back to basics:
● The Fagradalsfjall volcano, located on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland, is another notable example of the region’s volcanic activity.