Hofsjökull
(Note: There are two glaciers named Hofsjökull in Iceland . One is its own large glacier shield right in the geographical center of the country, the second is a former side glacier of Vatnajökull .)
| Hofsjökull | |
|---|---|
Satellite image of Hofsjökull. | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,782 metres (5,846 ft) |
| Prominence | ≈1100 m |
| Coordinates | 64°49′N 18°49′W |
| Geography | |
| Location | Southwestern Iceland |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Holocene |
| Mountain type | Subglacial shield volcano with caldera |
Hofsjökull (Icelandic: "temple glacier", Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈhɔfsˌjœːkʏtl̥] ⓘ) is the third largest ice cap in Iceland after Vatnajökull and Langjökull and the largest active volcano in the country. It is situated in the west of the Highlands of Iceland and north of the mountain range Kerlingarfjöll, between the two largest glaciers of Iceland. It covers an area of 925 km2, reaching 1,765 m (5,791 ft) at its summit. The subglacial volcano is a shield type with caldera.
Hofsjökull is the source of several rivers including the Þjórsá, Iceland's longest river.
In 2015, Hofsjökull increased in mass, the first time in 20 years this had happened.