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Southern Peninsula (Iceland)

January 01, 1970

This article is about most of the Reykjanes Peninsula. For other uses, see Reykjanes (disambiguation).

Southern Peninsula (Icelandic: Suðurnes, Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈsʏːðʏrˌnɛːs] ⓘ) is an administrative unit and part of Reykjanesskagi (pronounced [ˈreiːcaˌnɛsˌskaijɪ]), or Reykjanes Peninsula, a region in southwest Iceland. It was named after Reykjanes, the southwestern tip of Reykjanesskagi.[1]

Suðurnes
The Suðurnes area
Coordinates: 63°55′N 22°15′W / 63.917°N 22.250°W / 63.917; -22.250
CountryIceland
SeatKeflavík
Area
 • Total829 km2 (320 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total27,829
 • Density24.5/km2 (63/sq mi)
ISO 3166 codeIS-2
Map of the Suðurnes region

The region has 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.[2] The region is the location of Keflavík International Airport, the major point of entry for Iceland.[3][4] 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.[5] There 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).[6]

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 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.[7]

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 the eruption of the Fagradalsfjall volcano started on 19 March 2021,[8] 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".[9] In November 2023, a new bout of seismic activity occurred around Grindavík, prompting the town's evacuation and the declaration of a state of emergency over the threat of an imminent volcanic eruption,[10] culminating in the 2023-2024 Sundhnúkur eruptions.

Reykjanes volcanic belt edit

Reykjanes volcanic belt
 
The Reykjanes volcanic belt is almost completely covered by lava fields.
Highest point
Coordinates63°52′12″N 22°33′30″W / 63.87000°N 22.55833°W / 63.87000; -22.55833
Geography
 
Map of volcanic systems on the Reykjanes Peninsula. 1) Reykjanes, 2) Svartsengi, 3) Fagradalsfjall, 4) Krýsuvík, 5) Brennisteinsfjöll, and 6) Hengill
LocationReykjanes Peninsula, Iceland
Parent rangeMid-Atlantic Ridge
Geology
Mountain typefissure
Last eruption2023 CE[11]
Main article: Geology of Reykjanes Peninsula

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 the Reykjanes, Svartsengi, Fagradalsfjall, Krýsuvík, Brennisteinsfjöll, and Hengill volcanic systems). These are closely spaced en-echelon fissure systems, extending across the Reykjanes Peninsula.[12][13][14][15]). 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 the Hengill volcanic system, the most eastern system, has an additional central volcano, but this is outside the Southern Peninsula.[16][17] Tephra deposits from offshore explosive Holocene eruptions have been preserved on the Reykjanes Peninsula.[13]

Gallery edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Reykjanes Peninsula". visitreykjanes.is. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  2. ^ "Information about Keflavík". guidetoiceland.is. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  3. ^ "Keflavik International Airport". isavia.is. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  4. ^ "Leifur Eriksson Air Terminal". lsretail.com. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  5. ^ "Krysuvik geothermal area". icelandtravel.is. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  6. ^ "Svartsengi power plant". verkis.com. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  7. ^ "Bridge Between Continents". icelandtravel.is. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  8. ^ Bindeman, I. N.; Deegan, F. M.; Troll, V. R.; Thordarson, T.; Höskuldsson, Á; Moreland, W. M.; Zorn, E. U.; Shevchenko, A. V.; Walter, T. R. (2022-06-29). "Diverse mantle components with invariant oxygen isotopes in the 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption, Iceland". Nature Communications. 13 (1): 3737. doi:10.1038/s41467-022-31348-7. ISSN 2041-1723. PMC 9243117. PMID 35768436.
  9. ^ . Archived from the original on March 22, 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Iceland declares state of emergency over volcanic eruption threat: Powerful earthquakes rock country's southwestern Reykjanes peninsula, increasing likelihood of event". The Guardian. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  11. ^ December 19, 2023 - Iceland volcano erupts
  12. ^ Thor Thordarson, Armann Hoskuldsson: Iceland. Classic geology of Europe 3. Harpenden 2002, p.48-49, eg.
  13. ^ a b Sigurgeirsson, Magnús Á.; Einarsson, Sigmundur (2019). "Catalogue of Icelandic Volcanoes - Reykjanes and Svartsengi volcanic systems". Icelandic Meteorological Office, Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Iceland, Civil Protection Department of the National Commissioner of the Iceland Police. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  14. ^ Icelandic Met Office. Aviation colour code. Retrieved 17. August 2020.
  15. ^ Jillian Mary Verbeurgt: A comparative analysis of the magnetic anomalies associated with the geothermal systems on Reykjanes peninsula. Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Sustainable Energy Science. Haraldur Auðunsson, Supervisor. Reykjavík University. September 2019 Retrieved 17. August 2020.
  16. ^ Thor Thordarson, Armann Hoskuldsson: Iceland. Classic geology of Europe 3. Harpenden 2002, p.14 and 63.
  17. ^ Helgi Páll Jónsson: Eldfjallagarður og jarðminjasvæði á Reykjanesskaga. Jarðvísindadeild Háskóli Íslands 2011. MS ritgerð. Leiðbeinendur Ólafur Ingólfsson. Skoðað 17. ágúst 2020.

External links edit

 
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Southwest Iceland.
  • Reykjanes
  • Reykjanes South Peninsula Private Tour
Photography
  • http://isafold.de/reykjavegur01/img_sveifluhals.htm
  • http://isafold.de/reykjavegur01/img_pass.htm
  • http://isafold.de/reykjavegur01/img_keilir.htm
  • http://isafold.de/reykjavegur01/img_dampf.htm
  • http://icelandiscool.com/photos/islandpictures.htm

January 01, 1970
southern, peninsula, iceland, this, article, about, most, reykjanes, peninsula, other, uses, reykjanes, disambiguation, southern, peninsula, icelandic, suðurnes, icelandic, pronunciation, ˈsʏːðʏrˌnɛːs, administrative, unit, part, reykjanesskagi, pronounced, ˈr. This article is about most of the Reykjanes Peninsula For other uses see Reykjanes disambiguation Southern Peninsula Icelandic Sudurnes Icelandic pronunciation ˈsʏːdʏrˌnɛːs is an administrative unit and part of Reykjanesskagi pronounced ˈreiːcaˌnɛsˌskaijɪ or Reykjanes Peninsula a region in southwest Iceland It was named after Reykjanes the southwestern tip of Reykjanesskagi 1 SudurnesThe Sudurnes areaCoordinates 63 55 N 22 15 W 63 917 N 22 250 W 63 917 22 250CountryIcelandSeatKeflavikArea Total829 km2 320 sq mi Population 2020 Total27 829 Density24 5 km2 63 sq mi ISO 3166 codeIS 2 Map of the Sudurnes region The region has a population of 27 829 2020 and is one of the more densely populated parts of the island The administrative centre is Keflavik which had 7 000 residents when it merged with the nearby town of Njardvik and Hafnir in 1995 to create Reykjanesbaer which is the largest settlement outside the Greater Reykjavik area in 2018 the region had a population of 17 805 2 The region is the location of Keflavik International Airport the major point of entry for Iceland 3 4 Some fishing towns such as Grindavik Njardvik and Sandgerdi 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 Krysuvik geothermal area 5 There 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 Blaa Lonid 6 The Bridge Between Continents spans the Alfagja ˈaulvaˌcauː rift valley 60 feet 18 m wide and 20 feet 6 1 m deep near Grindavik which 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 7 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 the eruption of the Fagradalsfjall volcano started on 19 March 2021 8 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 9 In November 2023 a new bout of seismic activity occurred around Grindavik prompting the town s evacuation and the declaration of a state of emergency over the threat of an imminent volcanic eruption 10 culminating in the 2023 2024 Sundhnukur eruptions Contents 1 Reykjanes volcanic belt 2 Gallery 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksReykjanes volcanic belt editReykjanes volcanic belt nbsp The Reykjanes volcanic belt is almost completely covered by lava fields Highest pointCoordinates63 52 12 N 22 33 30 W 63 87000 N 22 55833 W 63 87000 22 55833Geography nbsp Map of volcanic systems on the Reykjanes Peninsula 1 Reykjanes 2 Svartsengi 3 Fagradalsfjall 4 Krysuvik 5 Brennisteinsfjoll and 6 HengillLocationReykjanes Peninsula IcelandParent rangeMid Atlantic RidgeGeologyMountain typefissureLast eruption2023 CE 11 Main article Geology of Reykjanes Peninsula 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 the Reykjanes Svartsengi Fagradalsfjall Krysuvik Brennisteinsfjoll and Hengill volcanic systems These are closely spaced en echelon fissure systems extending across the Reykjanes Peninsula 12 13 14 15 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 the Hengill volcanic system the most eastern system has an additional central volcano but this is outside the Southern Peninsula 16 17 Tephra deposits from offshore explosive Holocene eruptions have been preserved on the Reykjanes Peninsula 13 Gallery edit nbsp Leif the Lucky Bridge spanning the Alfagja rift valley nbsp Reykjanesvirkjun geothermal power plant nbsp Grindavik nbsp Krysuvik nbsp Keflavik International Airport nbsp Litli Hrutur eruption 2023 View from an airplaneSee also editKrysuvik volcanic system BrennisteinsfjollReferences edit Reykjanes Peninsula visitreykjanes is Retrieved December 1 2019 Information about Keflavik guidetoiceland is Retrieved December 1 2019 Keflavik International Airport isavia is Retrieved December 1 2019 Leifur Eriksson Air Terminal lsretail com Retrieved December 1 2019 Krysuvik geothermal area icelandtravel is Retrieved December 1 2019 Svartsengi power plant verkis com Retrieved December 1 2019 Bridge Between Continents icelandtravel is Retrieved December 1 2019 Bindeman I N Deegan F M Troll V R Thordarson T Hoskuldsson A Moreland W M Zorn E U Shevchenko A V Walter T R 2022 06 29 Diverse mantle components with invariant oxygen isotopes in the 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption Iceland Nature Communications 13 1 3737 doi 10 1038 s41467 022 31348 7 ISSN 2041 1723 PMC 9243117 PMID 35768436 Eruption in Iceland may mark the start of decades of volcanic activity Archived from the original on March 22 2021 Retrieved 27 March 2021 Iceland declares state of emergency over volcanic eruption threat Powerful earthquakes rock country s southwestern Reykjanes peninsula increasing likelihood of event The Guardian 10 November 2023 Retrieved 10 November 2023 December 19 2023 Iceland volcano erupts Thor Thordarson Armann Hoskuldsson Iceland Classic geology of Europe 3 Harpenden 2002 p 48 49 eg a b Sigurgeirsson Magnus A Einarsson Sigmundur 2019 Catalogue of Icelandic Volcanoes Reykjanes and Svartsengi volcanic systems Icelandic Meteorological Office Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Iceland Civil Protection Department of the National Commissioner of the Iceland Police Retrieved 29 December 2023 Icelandic Met Office Aviation colour code Retrieved 17 August 2020 Jillian Mary Verbeurgt A comparative analysis of the magnetic anomalies associated with the geothermal systems on Reykjanes peninsula Master of Science M Sc in Sustainable Energy Science Haraldur Audunsson Supervisor Reykjavik University September 2019 Retrieved 17 August 2020 Thor Thordarson Armann Hoskuldsson Iceland Classic geology of Europe 3 Harpenden 2002 p 14 and 63 Helgi Pall Jonsson Eldfjallagardur og jardminjasvaedi a Reykjanesskaga Jardvisindadeild Haskoli Islands 2011 MS ritgerd Leidbeinendur olafur Ingolfsson Skodad 17 agust 2020 External links edit nbsp Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Southwest Iceland Reykjanes Reykjanes South Peninsula Private Tour Photography http isafold de reykjavegur01 img sveifluhals htm http isafold de reykjavegur01 img pass htm http isafold de reykjavegur01 img keilir htm http isafold de reykjavegur01 img dampf htm http icelandiscool com photos islandpictures htm Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Southern Peninsula Iceland amp oldid 1217757856, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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