Askja, Active volcano in Skútustaðahreppur, Iceland
Askja is an active volcano in Þingeyjarsveit, Iceland, rising above a wide area in the central highlands. The system consists of basalt and rhyolite rock formations creating a terrain that covers a broad expanse marked by multiple craters and depressions.
The eruption of 1875 changed the area fundamentally and led to the formation of new basins within the region. Many people left the surrounding areas at that time because of the consequences of the eruption, which spread ash across large parts of the country.
The area served as a training ground for NASA Apollo program astronauts who prepared for lunar missions by studying the volcanic formations.
Access is through unpaved highland tracks that remain open only during summer between June and September. Travelers should prepare for weather changes and bring provisions, as there are no facilities on site.
The terrain served as a training site for Apollo program astronauts in the late 1960s, who simulated moon landings here. The formations resemble the terrain later encountered on the moon, according to many geologists.
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