Ok (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈɔːk] ; 1,198 m (3,930 ft)[2]) is a shield volcano in Iceland, to the west of Langjökull. It erupted during interglacials in the Pleistocene,[3] and is in proximity to the Prestahnúkur and Oddnýjarhnjúkur-Langjökull volcanic systems. The volcano was once topped by the Okjökull glacier, which may now only be represented by isolated patches of ice,[4] even if still shown on current maps.[5] At its top is the crater lake of Blávatn,[5] which can freeze over.[6]
| Ok | |
|---|---|
| Okjökull | |
 Volcano Ok (on the right in the background) seen from the Reykholtsdalur | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,198 m (3,930 ft) |
| Coordinates | 64°35′53″N 20°52′52″W / 64.598°N 20.881°W[1] |
| Geography | |
 | |
| Location | Southwestern Iceland |
| Geology | |
| Rock age | Holocene |
| Mountain type | Shield volcano |
 Selected geological features near the Ok shield volcano (red outline) and its lava field (violet shading). Other shading shows: calderas, central volcanoes and fissure swarms, subglacial terrain above 1,100 m (3,600 ft), and seismically active areas. Clicking on the image enlarges to full window and enables mouse-over with more detail. | |
While the volcano itself historically had little attention, its absent glacier has been used to symbolise recent climate change.[4][7][8] The lost glacier was the subject of a documentary, Not Ok, in 2018, produced by Cymene Howe and Dominic Boyer. In August 2019, the glacier was memorialised with a plaque on site, the English text of which, written by Andri Snær Magnason, reads:[9]
A letter to the future
Ok is the first Icelandic glacier to lose its status as a glacier. In the next 200 years all our glaciers are expected to follow the same path. This monument is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it.
August 2019
415PPM CO2[10]
References
edit- ^ "Ok". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2017-04-11.
- ^ National Land Survey of Iceland (Icelandic) Archived 2004-11-03 at the National and University Library of Iceland
- ^ Einarsson, Þorleifur: "Geology of Iceland", page 67. Mál og Menning, 2005.
- ^ a b Howe, C.; Boyer, D. (2024). "The Okjökull Memorial and Geohuman Relations". Social Anthropology/Anthropologie Sociale. 32 (1): 30–45. doi:10.3167/saas.2024.320104.
- ^ a b "National Land Survey of Iceland-Mapviewer (Kortasja-Landmælingar Íslands)". Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ Hallgerður Kolbrún E. Jónsdóttir (August 13, 2019). "Nasa birtir myndir af hverfandi ísbreiðu Oks". Vísir (in Icelandic). Archived from the original on 16 September 2019.
- ^ Vísindavefurinn (Icelandic)
- ^ Iceland Review Online
- ^ "A monument is unveiled at site of Okjokull, Iceland's first glacier".
- ^ Amy McCaig, 'Lost glacier to be honored with memorial monument Archived 2021-05-10 at the Wayback Machine' (18 July 2019).
External links
edit- "Ok". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2017-04-11.