Öraefajökull

views updated

Öraefajökull (ö´rīväyö´kütəl), mountain, SE Iceland, rising from the Vatnajökull glacier. Öraefajökull is an ice-covered, three-peaked volcano. The largest of its four recorded eruptions occurred in 1362; all have been destructive, owing to the devastating floods caused by melting ice. Its highest peak, Hvannadalshnúkur (6,950 ft/2,118 m), is also the highest point in Iceland.

More From encyclopedia.com