Tindfjallajökull

Tindfjallajökull stretches across an area of 12.4 square kilometers, with a central volcano measuring between 15 to 20 kilometers in diameter at 1,462 meters elevation.

The formation of the glacier dates back 54,000 years when a massive eruption created a five-kilometer-wide caldera in the volcanic structure beneath.

The name translates to 'peak mountain glacier' in reference to the sharp peaks of Tindfjöll, while its summit bears the name of Ymir from Norse mythology.

Five rivers flow from the glacier: Gilsá, Þórólfsá, Hvítmaga, Valá, and Blesá, contributing to the water system of Southern Iceland's highlands.

The glacier has decreased by 45 percent since the 1890s, revealing an ancient stratovolcano with a composition ranging from basaltic to rhyolitic rock.

Location: Southern Region

Elevation above the sea: 1,462 m

Part of: Tindfjöll

GPS coordinates: 63.80000,-19.58000

Latest update: March 10, 2025 07:04