Eyjafjallajökull – The one that rules them all
Last update: 13 February 2023
First published: 26 February 2017
Eyjafjallajökull, the unpronounceable one, silently looming in the background. Always in the shadow of its bigger sisters and brothers. Nobody knew its name, or could even pronounce it. Well, except of course Icelanders.
Until that day in April 2010, when it literally erupted into world fame, and stopped the whole of Europe in their tracks.
Eyjafjallajökull rules them all. 😉
Quietly looming…
Where is Eyjafjallajökull located?
You’ll see this beautiful volcano looming from the Ring Road, the main road around Iceland, near Skógar on the south coast. From Skógafoss you can explore its lower slopes if you walk up the stairway beside the waterfall. Sometimes the track is temporarily closed for the fragile vegetation to regenerate. This happens especially in Spring, when the path get muddy due to melting of snow. Check beforehand.
Thórsmörk – The back garden of Eyjafjallajökull
Even more spectacular views await when you venture into the fabled valley of Thórsmörk (also known as Þórsmörk) on the other side. Skógafoss is also the starting point of the 25 kilometre Fimmvörðuháls walking track, across Eyjafjallajökull and down into Thórsmörk.
Epic midnight sunset on Eyjafjallajökull.
Magni crater and Fimmvörðuháls lava flow, still steaming at their edges, four years after the eruption.
You do need some bits & pieces of rope in places to get down the mountain on the Þórsmörk side,… 😉
The unpronounceable glacier mountain
On my first short visit to Iceland I rented a car for 2 days and went on a spontaneous road trip along the south coast to Vík. And got lost in some of the most overwhelmingly beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen, full of steaming fields and surreal rugged mountains with countless waterfalls tumbling from their hallucinating green edges. It was beyond anything I could have imagined or expected beforehand.
It was probably the sight of the incredible craggyness of that obscure mountain that did it. I saw a brilliant sunset on its shimmering glacier looming in the distance, and was well & truly blown away.
A giant column of northern lights erupting from Eyjafjallajökull. Photo by Ruth Zohlen.
How to pronounce Eyjafjallajökull?
So how do you pronounce the name of this infamous ‘unpronounceable’ volcano? Eyjafjallajökull is easy to pronounce! Listen to it in this video, where an Icelander explains how to say it.
More tongue-twisting place names in Iceland
Still not convinced that Eyjafjallajökull is actually not that difficult? Try pronouncing one of these! 😉
- Útigönguhöfði (a ridiculously steep mountain in Thórsmörk)
- Fjaðrárgljúfur (a beautiful canyon on the south coast)
- Fljótsdalshérað (the region around Egilsstaðir in East Iceland)
- Landeyjahöfn (the ferry harbour to Vestmannaeyjar)
- Thríhnúkagígur (an extinct volcano in southwest Iceland, where you can descent into its colourful magma chamber)
Or check out this map for some more hardcore tongue twisting challenges!
Eyjafjallajökull area map
This handy interactive map shows the locations in the pictures above and around the area. You can also zoom in for more details, and click on the icons to reveal pictures of stunning views.
Do you have a question or a comment? Let me know in the comment box at the bottom of this page. Your input can also be valuable for other readers. Thank you for sharing. 💚
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(c) Nancy Claus – Wilderness Coffee & Natural High
Mountains & Volcanoes – Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland
This post was originally published as NaturePic Challenge: a series of pictures of epic nature and places that will induce a natural high. 😉
Video – Eyjafjallajökull and Fimmvörðuháls
View over the Fimmvörðuháls lava fields from the top of Magni crater on Eyjafjallajökull.
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More to explore & discover
Fagradalsfjall – The spectacular Iceland volcano eruption
La Palma – Cumbre Vieja volcano route
Stromboli – The ancient lighthouse of the Mediterranean
Kerlingarfjöll – Steaming valleys and surreal landscapes
Vestmannaeyjar walking tracks – The best walks on Heimaey