Hrafntinnusker, Mountain summit in the Icelandic Highland, Iceland.
Hrafntinnusker is a mountain summit in Iceland's highland region at approximately 5,790 feet (1,764 meters). It rises above geothermal features and colorful rhyolite formations that shimmer in shades of red, yellow, and gray.
The first mountain hut was built in 1977 to support hikers on the famous Laugavegur trail. This marked the beginning of organized tourism in this highland region.
The name comes from obsidian deposits, black glass stones formed by rapid cooling of acidic lava. Visitors can spot these shiny black stones scattered across the landscape around the mountain.
The Höskuldsskáli hut offers accommodation for about 50 people with a kitchen, dormitory rooms, and camping areas on sand and gravel. Visitors should expect extreme weather and bring warm clothing plus gear for sudden temperature changes.
The summit is capped by a shrinking glacier, while active geothermal vents create steam caves beneath the surface. These hidden ice caves form where steam rising from hot ground melts the frozen layers above.
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