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 The distance between
Skogar
and Thorsmork (Basar) is about 23 km. Hikers en route across The
Fimmvorduhals Pass to Skogar can divide the leg by staying overnight in
the hut in the pass after a 5 hour walk and continue for five hours the
next day down to Skogar or visa versa.
All kinds of weather
conditions can be expected when crossing over to the south coast and sometimes the
markers are hidden by the snow patches.
In 1970 a few hikers died of
hypothermia up there.
A very popular hiking trail between Thorsmork
and Landmannalaugar for
those who decide to continue on the well-marked route.
On March 20th 2010 (spring equinox), shortly before
midnight, a half a kilometre long fissure opened up and an eruption
started just to the west of the hiking trail. Earthquakes and
tremours had been monitored since the summer of 2009, and the
authorities were well prepared for the measures to be taken in case of
an eruption. People were temporarily evacuated from the area and
roads were closed. They were opened again in the afternoon.
Scientists say, that this erution probably will count among the small
ones. Lava started flowing across the hiking trail, down into the
Hrunagil gorge on the 22nd, melting snow and causing temporary swelling
of river Krossa. The trail is thus closed and it depends on the
duration of the eruption, when it will be passable again.
On March 31st, a NW-SE eruptive fissure opened up a bit
further northwest of the original crater, which remained active.
Molten lava flowed from the new fissure down into the Hvannargil gorge
further north and added to the lava volume. The police and the
rescue corps present decided to evacuate the eruption area. In the
evening, it was decided to evacuate the Godaland and Thorsmork areas as
well and close access to them for the time being. The whole
mountain was unstable, and noone knew what would and could happen next. Those who visit the area have to
be aware of the
risk involved and be prepared for the worst.
April 13th - 14th 2010. No emission of lava
from the fissure of March 31st. Eruption pause or end.
April 14th 2010. Shortly after midnight the
mountain massif Eyjafjoll's caldera started erupting. Flood waves
rushed in two directions, mainly to the north into river Markarfljot's
wide valley, threatening farm communities and communications on rd #1,
which was removed partly to save a relatively new bridge.
Approximately 700 people were evacuated from their homes. The
flood wave to the south threatens an inabited area around farm
Thorvaldseyri, and will cause damage to rd #1, fields and meadows. The westerly winds carried ash and tephra eastwards,
where large areas were covered. It is estimated that the tephra
distribution might disturb air communications to Northern Europe
(Scandinavia) the next few days. The westerly winds carried ash
and tephra eastwards, where large areas were covered. It is
expected that the tephra distribution might disturb air communications
to Northern Europe (Scandinavia) the next few days.
May 3rd 2010. The last few days, one crater has been active
in one of the ice cauldrons. Lava has been flowing to the north
under the glacier tongue Gigjokull and increasing meltwater on the
outwash plain. Today the temperature of the main glacial river,
Markarfljot, was measured 11-17°C at the old bridge (1934).
A German research plane flew to the southeast along the ash plume, which
is carried at relarively low altitudes (>20 thousand feet), and reported hight density of
the ash all the way down to the latitude 60°N, which might cause some
disruptions of flights. Airports in Ireland and Scotland were
closed as a result (May 4th and 5th).
According to scientists, the eruption is now more intense than in the
beginning, but the ash (tephra) distribution is less likely to cause
trouble because of coarser particles.
May 23rd 2010. The eruption has been dwindling during the
week. A reporter flew over the crater in the afternoon and saw no
sign of activity. The volcano has paused or the eruption is over.
Huts at
Fimmvorduhals and Thorsmork |
