Jólnir

This article is about the former island. For the Norse god, see Odin.

Jólnir (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈjoulnɪr̥] ) was formerly a volcanic island south of Iceland. It was a former vent of Surtsey, along with Syrtlingur and Surtla. It emerged from the ocean as a result of active plate tectonics between December, 1965 and July, 1966. Oceanic erosion cyclically wore down the new lava as it formed, and the island sank below the surface several times.

Jólnir
Jólnir on 22 August 1966, two weeks after volcanic activity ceased
Highest point
Elevation	64 metres (210 ft) (as an island) Below sea level (present)
Prominence	Below sea level
Geography
Location	The Atlantic Ocean's sea floor southwest of Surtsey, Iceland
Geology
Rock age	Recent
Mountain type(s)	Volcanic island, volcanic cone
Last eruption	1966

It was named for Jólnir, a Norse god (usually identified as a second name for Odin).

Jólnir's formation is closely linked to that of neighboring volcanic island, Surtsey, which emerged in 1963. Volcanic eruptions occurred in much of the surrounding water, but newly formed land was subject to erosion and many small islands washed away. By 1966, Jólnir had broken the surface and a volcanic cone of mafic tephra developed. The volcanic cone reached 64 metres (210 ft) above sea level, but even this landmass eventually gave way to the eroding ocean waves.

After volcanic activity ceased on 8 August 1966, the Atlantic Ocean's waves rapidly eroded the volcanic island. Near the end of September 1966, the island disappeared below the Atlantic Ocean's surface.

See also

• Volcanism of Iceland
  • List of volcanic eruptions in Iceland
  • List of volcanoes in Iceland

External links

• Photograph and brief description from United States Armed Forces newspaper Stars and Stripes.
• Another photograph of Jólnir in 1966
• University of North Dakota page about Surtsey and Jólnir