As far as volcanos go, Iceland has something to suit almost every taste. Fancy a classic cone design? Take a drive to Snæfellnes to visit the (possibly) dormant but lovely Snæfell volcano, and even climb to the top if you’d like. Are you more into fissures? Go see the Laki rift which last erupted in 1782, and caused climate changes as far away as India. Hoping to see some real live flowing lava? Contemplate the majesty of Hekla or Katla, both long overdue to blow. Even if a real-time eruption isn’t on the itinerary, it’s still extremely easy to see the island’s heat in action at sulfur pits, boiling mud pots, and steaming cracks in the earth throughout the country, some only half an hour from the Reykjavik city center. Even soaking in rivers Firefly 2+ Plus Vaporizer naturally heated by the same intense underground energy as a volcano is possible, bringing you seemingly one step closer to the heart of the world.
Hekla is the appointed Queen of Icelandic volcanoes. It’s so consistently active that volcanologists the world over basically expect it to blow at any time, and especially when it shows signs of subterranean tremors like it did in 2013. It’s erupted at least 20 times since the first Norsefolk came over 1200 years ago, and was literally considered either the gateway to Hell, or Hell itself. Interestingly enough, it hasn’t caused that much damage in recorded history, though geologists can tell that from its birth around 7000 years ago until around 1000BC it caused massive damage and change to the Icelandic landscape. Since then, though, it’s lost its explosive force, and is more a pouring-lava style volcano with much less ash and smoke.
Still, the last eruption in 2000 gave only fifteen minutes’ warning, and locals know that climbing it is actually never really a very good idea. There is an 8-hour long round-trip trail to the top, but it’s for experts only, and authorization must be given for the climb.
This is another one of Iceland’s famously explosive volcanos, most specifically because of the eruption in 1918 that lasted for almost a month, but also for the nearly 20 other eruptions since the 9th century. It’s capped with glacial ice, so there’s nothing at all interesting about it visually, but it’s as well-known as its sister volcano Hekla for being highly active and basically unpredictable. Because it’s under the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, the main threat it’s posed to Icelanders has been massive glacial bursts, or runs, that flood the plains below with flash-melted ice. A small eruption or heat-up of the volcano that goes otherwise unnoticed under the glacier can cause massive torrents to rush from it, causing damage and mayhem.
Like Hekla, this is not a volcano to get close to, and basically an eruption is expected any day now. Earthquake swarms have been detected near it in the past few years, and systems have been put in place to warn the aviation industry immediately if, or more appropriately, when, it blows.
Our bad-boy celebrity volcano! Eyjafjallajökull had its fifteen minutes of fame five years ago when decided to blow. Locals desperate to get off the island to warmer vacation lands couldn’t, and all air traffic in western Europe halted due to the massive plume of thick ash it poured forth. Technically the name means “Island-Mountain-Glacier” (jökull means glacier) but the glacier in reference sits on top of a live caldera and gives it its name. The air traffic havok this volcano caused in April 2010 meant that its nearly impossible-to-pronounce name became synonymous with trouble, and to this day tourist shops sell vials of ash, ash ceramics, and t-shirts dedicated to our most notorious modern-day eruption
Located pretty close to Highway 1 in the south, Eyjafjallajökull is easy to see from the road, though it’s not a volcano you’d want to walk on: the ice cap is steep and full of crevices. For more experienced hikers, though, the Fimmvörðurháls trail passes close by, offering a chance to greet this world-infamous caldera from a friendly but safe distance away.
If you like looking at mountains that happen to be volcanoes that look like cake, you’ll love Herðubreið (‘Broad Shoulders’). Located in the northern highlands of Iceland, it’s flat-topped, high-sided, and until the winter snow covering melts away in high summer, covered in white which looks just like frosting. When Herðubreið was born many millennia ago out of the Ódáðahraun lava field (or ‘Desert of Misdeeds’, as some translate that name) it was pressed and flatted under the massive ice sheet of the last global glacial period.
It’s virtually unclimbable, and is showing signs of waking up, so this is a mountain that’s best seen from a distance, at one of the lovely look-out points along the main highway in the north. Artists have painted it, photographers have captured it, and some say it’s a contender for the most beautiful volcano in the world.
Askja is not actually a single volcano, but a series of remote craters in the highlands interior of Iceland, just north of the huge Vatnajökull glacier. Nobody even really knew this system existed as live eruptors until 1875, when it erupted massively enough to spread poisoned ash over the whole east coast of the island, ash which was also carried by the winds over to Norway and Sweden and Northern Ireland. Livestock suffered horribly, and for many Icelanders this was seen as the last straw – thousands packed up and emigrated. One of the main calderas has filled up with water, forming a round, milky turquoise lake that though lovely to look at is nonetheless called Víti, or ‘Hell’.
It’s a popular place to visit, all stark and eerie. The roads there are usually only open for a few summer months, though, and since temblors have been measured in recent years, and because of the recent Bárðabunga eruption close by, the area is currently closed to all access.
Iceland just gave birth to a new lava field, one of the largest spreads of magma since the Laki flow of 1783. Unofficially named Nornahraun, or Witches Lava, it poured forth over the span of six months from a newly-formed fissure in the Bárðabunga volcanic system. This system sits just under the edge of Vatnajökull glacier, and so is another example of a live Icelandic volcano that’s just not that interesting to look at. Until, that is, it starts spewing bright red magma that shoots into the air in thin, high walls and pours across the landscape in molten rivers. At that point, it’s one of the most beautiful sights on earth.
Needless to say, the area around Bárðabunga is off-limits as is, and even in more restful times is very difficult to get to, though on clear, safe days during the eruption airplane and helicopter tours around the region were popular. Now that the glowing magma has darkened and hardened, though, there’s not much to see – until the next eruption that is!
Cerro Negro (Black Hill), is one of Central America’s youngest volcanos located in Nicaragua. Over the years, this volcano has become a popular tourist destination for a couple of reasons. Once here, you will have the privilege of hiking to its peak, which is more than 2300 feet (78 meters) above sea level. But your journey also involves going back down at some point. And going down can always be done the traditional way or the more exhilarating, adrenaline-pumping way, which is volcano boarding!
So what is volcano boarding? It basically refers to an exciting ride that brings you down the slope of the volcano at a fast speed. To achieve this, you will need a relatively large piece of wood that will act as your board. How do you go about volcano boarding? First, you will need to engage one of the several organized tour companies that conduct volcano boarding at Cerro Negro area.
Next, you will need to trek to the top of the volcano which takes about one hour. From here, you can enjoy amazing view of the volcanic landscape. Then, with your wooden board, your guide will bring you over to a specific spot to slide down. And finally, you will need to get on that board and go down Cerro Negro’s slope, which is made up of small grains of volcanic rock over which you glide at a speed of 30 mph! Although the acceleration only takes a couple of minutes, volcano boarding is definitely an unforgettable and adventurous experience. This is the reason this activity is so popular among visitors and especially to backpackers.
There are two methods of riding the board. The first one is the safer one, which involves sitting down on the wooden plank as you would on a sled or toboggan. The second one is the more daring one, as it involves standing up similar to a riding a snowboard. The snowboard position proves to be slower and makes it more difficult for you to turn in different directions. What is guaranteed is that you will get more speed when sitting down as the center of gravity is lower. But don’t expect volcano boarding to be as smooth snowboarding as snowflakes are more slippery than volcanic rocks, which create more friction with the board.
The volcano boards are usually equipped with a rope, which your hands can hold for stability. And when you lean back and pull this rope, it will allow you to get maximum speed. Safety of course is a huge priority while doing this fun activity. Make sure to choose a tour operator that offers you the right equipment such as one-piece protective suit, goggles and leather gloves. Volcano boarding is of course not for everyone, and is ideal for physically fit people who have a good sense of balance. There’s always the risk of crashing into the sharp volcanic rocks, so make sure you have travel health insurance before attempting this challenging activity and that it covers you for adventures like this.
