Eiríksjökull, Ice cap and mountain in Borgarbyggð, Iceland
Eiríksjökull is an ice-capped mountain mass in western Iceland with its highest point reaching about 1675 meters. The formation displays white snow and ice cover across broad slopes and ridges above darker volcanic rock surrounding it.
The area was originally called Baldjökull until around 1700, when it took its current name from the nearby mountain formation. This change reflects how geographical names in Iceland evolved over the centuries.
The name comes from a local legend about an outlaw named Eiríkur who sought shelter at the adjacent mountain Eiríksgnípa. This story shapes how people today connect to the place and its surroundings.
Access is best arranged through organized tours that depart from local base camps and lead toward the more accessible western sections. Weather is changeable and conditions shift rapidly, so warm clothing and sturdy footwear are essential.
The structure combines rare tuya and composite volcano characteristics, rising more than 1000 meters above the surrounding Hallmundarhraun lava field. This geological blend is found at only a few places and makes the peak particularly interesting to geologists.
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