Prestahnúkur

The volcano Prestahnúkur is in the west of the Highlands of Iceland to the west of Langjökull glacier, or to be more specific, to the west of Geitlandsjökull glacier, a part of the Langjökull.

Prestahnúkur
Prestahnúkur
Highest point
Elevation1,220 m (4,000 ft)
Naming
English translationpeak of the priests
Language of nameEnglish
Geography
LocationIceland
Geology
Mountain typeSubglacial
Last eruption3350 BCE (?)
Prestahnúkur
Prestahnúkur on the map of Iceland

The volcanic system

The central volcano Prestahnúkur consists of rhyolite and has a small magma chamber. At its feet is a high temperature area which shows that the volcano is active.

In 2009 some geologists of the Icelandic Meteorologic Institute researched the material about earthquake events in the area. This shows that volcanic fissures lie in direction southwest-northeast and reach among others under the glaciers Þórisjökull and Geitlandsjökull-Langjökull.[1]

The rock

The rhyolite of the mountain was for some time very popular and exploited as construction material, partly for export. But the mine has been closed.

The name

The name means "peak of the priests".

The origin of the name was an expedition of two priests into the highlands in the 17th century. It was seen as quite an enterprise at the time when they went into this region. They explored especially a valley behind the Þórisjökull called Þórisdalur, which had a bad reputation in sagas and folk stories because it was believed to be haunted by ghosts and that lawless people would be living there. As is clear today, they found nothing of the sort, but they were regarded as heroes when they came back from this expedition.[2]

Highland Road Kaldidalur and mountaineering

The highland road Kaldidalur is situated not far from the mountain and it is possible to access the mountain by a bad jeep track and climb it.

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See also
Prestahnúkur seen from Kaldidalur Highland road

References
  1. Sigurlaug Hjaltadóttir, Kristin S. Vogfjörd. Icelandic Meteorological Institute. Kortlagning sprungna í nágrenni Prestahnúks með smáskjálftum. Kortlagnin jarðhita í gosbeltum Íslands, annar áfangi. skyrsla VI/2009-011
  2. Íslandshandbókin. Fyrra bindi. Reykjavík 1989, bls. 114

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