While you have been driving through this area from Skaftafell to Jökulsárlón, the further you go east you will start to see a giant glacier in your back mirror. This glacier is Öræfajökull. Öræfajökull is a stratovolcano that has erupted two times in historical time, both of these eruptions where catastrophic, the first one was in 1362 and then 1727. On top of Öræfajökull, we have the highest peak in Iceland, Hvannadalshnúkur. Hvannadalshnúkur is 2110 meters high and is a popular hiking for experienced hikers. The hiking takes about 13-16 hours and is mainly in glacier environment. This hike should only be done with the appropriate equipment and knowledge on glacier traveling. If you are interested you can hire a guide for that, we do any special project and are used to operate this hiking, contact us here.
In the past few years scientist have been noticing some unusual activity in the mountain and they believe it might erupt sooner than later. But that being said that could mean in the next 50-100 years or tomorrow.
