Is Hekla still active?

Hekla, nicknamed ‘the Gateway to Hell’ in the Middle Ages, is one of Iceland’s most explosive, unpredictable and powerful volcanoes. It has erupted twenty to thirty times since settlement and remains active to this day. Learn more about it on a volcano tour in Iceland.

What is the closest city to Hekla?

Lava flows issuing from this fissure have contributed to the volcano’s elongated shape. Hekla stands 4,892 feet (1,491 metres) above sea level 70 miles (110 km) east of Reykjavík, the capital, at the eastern end of the island’s most extensive farming region.

Can you climb Hekla?

Anyone is allowed to hike up the mountain and technically, it is not a difficult hike. Most likely, though, not all of those people are aware of the risk they take by climbing the mountain. Hekla erupts frequently, especially during the 20th century, with eruptions occurring in 1947, 1970, 1980, 1991 and 2000.

Is Hekla active or dormant?

Mount Hekla is located in the highly active volcanic zone along the south shore and is the most active volcano in Iceland with more than 20 eruptions since 874. The volcano is part of a volcanic ridge, 40 km (25 mi) long. The most active part of this ridge is a fissure about 5.5 km (3.4 mi) long named Heklugja.

Where is the Hekla volcano in Iceland located?

How to get to Hekla Volcano. If Hekla’s impressive reputation wasn’t enough to tempt visitors, the fact that it is a short drive from Reykjavik certainly makes Hekla volcano a worthy attraction. Located in the south of Iceland in the middle of the Fjallabak mountain range, it’s easily accessible from Reykjavik.

How big is the fissure in Hekla Iceland?

The fissure, Heklugjá, which splits the ridge, is about 5.5 km long. The mountain is about 1, 491 m high. During historical times, frequent large explosive eruptions have deposited tephra throughout Iceland, which provide time markers used to date eruptions from other Icelandic volcanoes.

Why was Hekla believed to be the entrance to Hell?

This reputation caused people in the middle ages to believe that Hekla or Hecla was the entrance to Hell. That however, hasn’t stopped brave travellers from exploring one of Iceland’s active volcanoes!

Which is the most famous volcano in Iceland?

Hekla is Iceland’s most famous volcano. An active volcano for centuries, the mountain Hekla is one of the most famous in the world. Hekla is a stratovolcano, located near the southern end of the eastern rift zone in Iceland. The whole mountain ridge of Hekla is about 40 km long.