Learn about living with active volcanos through enroot information panels, centres, and museums, where you can also purchase our hiking maps and booklets. Keep a keen eye out for activities and enterprises certified by Katla Geopark, which ensure you the best of local knowledge and local products.
Geology
Iceland lies astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where tectonic plates move apart, causing a rift zone. In addition, a mantle plume is centred under the South-East of Iceland (Vatnajökull-glacier).
Known for it´s waterfalls and black beaches with basalt columns and sea stacks, Katla Geopark (9542 km2) lies along the most volcanically active area of Iceland. The interaction between the rift zone and the mantle plume causes diverse and frequent volcanic activity, constantly changing the landscape and influencing the pattern of settlement and vegetation. Ice-capped central volcanoes rule the area. Outlet glaciers and glacial rivers flow from them, and outbursts from subglacial eruptions have formed the great outwash plains in the lowlands. You will find the world’s largest fields of rootless cones and the most extensive lava fields of modern times covered in fragile moss. The impressive crater row, Laki, and an open volcanic fissure, Eldgjá, are featured along the rift zone in the highlands. None of the rock you will see is older than 3 million years, and the youngest is yet to come…
