Öræfajökull

Southeast

Öræfajökull is Iceland's highest point and largest active volcano by volume. The summit ridge, Hvannadalshnúkur, reaches 2,109.6 meters on the caldera rim of a stratovolcano buried under Vatnajökull's southern edge. Both historical eruptions were destructive: the 1362 event produced more tephra than any other in Iceland's recorded history, wiped out a prosperous farming district, and left the land uninhabited for over 40 years — the area was renamed Öræfi, or wasteland. The smaller 1727 eruption sent meltwater floods across farmland, killing three people. Climbing Hvannadalshnjúkur is a serious undertaking. The round trip from Skaftafell takes 12 to 15 hours, involves glacier travel with crevasse risk, and requires a guide and mountaineering equipment. Most guided ascents run April through June. The Skaftafell visitor centre inside Vatnajökull National Park is the starting point, with guides and a campsite on site. Shorter guided glacier walks on the tongue glaciers are available year-round. The Ring Road runs past the base of the massif around 330 km east of Reykjavík.

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