Iceland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The natural beauty of this country can put any other country to shame. The country is famous for its volcanic landscapes. Today let us talk about 12 surprising facts about Icelandic volcanoes.

Around 200 volcanoes

Yes, you read it right. There are around 200 active or dormant volcanoes in Iceland. Located in the ‘Iceland plume’, the country is teeming with volcanoes.

Division by tectonic plates

The volcanoes of the island are divided into two categories on the basis of the two tectonic plates that make up Iceland, the Eurasian and the American.

Shifting volcanoes

Due to the shifting of tectonic plates, the volcanoes of the country are continuously on the move. They are shifting in a general eastward direction. This movement poses a great threat.

Iceland spews the most lava

The largest amount of lava that comes out in any place in the world is in Iceland. The continuous eruption and lava oozing volcanoes are the most generous when it comes to giving out huge amounts of magma.

Eruption that covered the sky for years

The volcano of Laki erupted in the 1700. The eruption was on such a large scale that Europe was darkened for years to come.

Eruption that disrupted air travel

The eruption of a volcano named Eyjafjallajökull disrupted air travel in entire Europe.

Iceland is entirely made of solidified magma

Volcanic rocks constitute the entire landscape of the country. It has the youngest rocks in the world.

Live creation of an island

The Surtsey eruption displayed to the entire world the formation of an island by cooling and solidification of lava. The world watched as the lava from the volcano cooled to form an island.

Energy from volcanic heat

The amount of heat released by these volcanoes is so much that Iceland thought to make it a renewable energy source. The heat generated from the interior of the earth is used to make energy.

Volcanic eruption under a glacier

There are a large number of volcanoes in Iceland. There are a large number of glaciers in Iceland. Therefore, combining the two we got a bizarre phenomenon of a volcanic eruption under a glacier.

All types of volcanoes

Iceland is the home to all types of volcanoes there are in the world. In the country there are shield volcano, strato volcano, caldera volcano and many more.

Gateway to hell

The famous volcano of Hekla in Iceland is very aptly known as the gateway to hell. The volcano brings widespread destruction.