Ljótipollur (“Ugly Pool”) is a majestic and strikingly beautiful explosion crater near Frostastadavatn, just west of Landmannalaugar in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve. It was formed in a massive eruption in the Veidivötn region in 1477. During this event, a 60 km-long volcanic fissure was created by magma that traveled an 80 km path from Bárdarbunga beneath Vatnajökull. The Bárdarbunga volcanic system, part of Iceland’s second-highest mountain, is the largest and most extensive volcanic system in the country. It straddles the center of Iceland’s hotspot, where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge intersects with the mantle plume. Many of the largest lava eruptions of modern times have originated from the Bárdarbunga system. Few places in Iceland showcase the destructive forces of nature and their breathtaking beauty as vividly as the stunning Ljótipollur.
Fjallabak Nature Reserve 02/12/2024: A7R III, RX1R II – FE 1.8/20mm G, FE 1.4/85mm GM, FE 2.8/90mm G, FE 1.2/50mm GM – Images & Text: Páll Stefánsson
