[Folda] Thursday lecture: Katla Geopark

[Sigurjón Valgeir Hafsteinsson]

Dear Folda members

Rannveig and Ragnhildur from Katla GeoPark are gonna visit us this Thursday 4th of April.
Place: The geology cofee room at 3rd floor in Askja.
Time: 12 o´clock.

Katla Geopark is Iceland´s first geopark and it covers the municipalities Rangárþing eystra, Mýrdalshreppur and Skaftárhreppur. It started by a pilot project which The University Center of South Iceland (Háskólafélag Suðurlands) initiated. In 2010 the geopark was formally established and an application was sent to the European Geoparks Network. In 2011 Katla Geopark got accepted to the European Geoparks Network and Global Geoparks Network. The priority of the geopark is to protect the natural environment, promote local sustainable development, introduce local culture and place a strong emphasis on nature tourism.

Katla Geopark is in every sense the land of ice and fire, with its towering glaciers active volcanoes. These forces have been shaping the land for thousands of years and the nearest examples of that are the powerful eruptions in Eyjafjallajökull 2010 and Grímsvötn 2011. But there are also more amazing landscapes in the area, mountains, lakes, black sandy beaches, green pastures and meadows, powerful glacial rivers, beautiful waterfalls and vast lava fields.

Volcanic activity and its widespread effect on the area’s nature and landscape make Katla Geopark unique. The Geopark is in the most volcanically active area of Iceland, and the volcanic systems at Eyjafjallajökull, Katla, and Grímsvötn are particularly active. The region is characterised by central volcanoes, eruptive craters and fissures, rootless cones, lava fields, table mountains (tuyas), and hyaloclastite ridges which trend SW-NE, like the rift zone.

Ice caps are prominent in the landscape, topping the highest volcanoes. Outlet glaciers and glacial rivers flow from them and glacial landforms, like moraines and ice-dammed lakes, occur in the area. Large floods, usually glacier outbursts associated with subglacial eruptions, have formed outwash plains in the lowlands. The oldest bedrock in the area is about 2,5 million years old, and can be found at the base of Lómagnúpur, an old sea-cliff (671 m). Other interesting features in the Geopark are fossil-bearing xenoliths, and tephra layers which are useful for dating (tephro- chronology).

These versatile landscapes makes various activities and adventures possible in the area, for example ice climbing and glacier walking, hiking, caving, horse-riding, sight seeing, angling, Jeep safaris and golf. Then there is also possibilities to enjoy the areas local culture by visiting its interesting museums and exhibitions and then relax in one of the areas swimming pools after a busy day.

Best regards and hoping to see you all
Board of Folda