Eyjafjallajökull Glacier

Eyjafjallajökull is one of the defining mountains of Iceland's South Coast: a 1,651-metre stratovolcano covered by a relatively small ice cap. The volcano rises directly above the lowlands between Skógar, Seljalandsfoss and the Þórsmörk area. Its summit contains an ice-filled caldera, while outlet glaciers such as Gígjökull and Steinholtsjökull descend from the main ice cap. Eyjafjallajökull has erupted several times in historical Iceland, including a prolonged eruption in 1821–1823, but it became globally known during the 2010 eruption. Explosive interaction between magma and ice produced ash that spread into European airspace and led to extensive flight disruption. Locally, the eruption also caused jökulhlaups, ashfall and major changes around the glacier. For most travellers, the best way to appreciate Eyjafjallajökull is from the South Coast lowlands and signed viewpoints, where the full glacier-covered mountain can be seen in clear weather. Travel on the glacier itself requires specialist skills and should only be undertaken with appropriate professional guidance. Nearby sites such as Gígjökull, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss help explain the wider landscape around the volcano.