Búrfell () is a
basalt
Basalt (; ) is an aphanite, aphanitic (fine-grained) extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron (mafic lava) exposed at or very near the planetary surface, surface of a terrestrial ...
tuya
A tuya is a flat-topped, steep-sided volcano formed when lava erupts through a thick glacier or ice sheet. They are rare worldwide, being confined to regions which were covered by glaciers and had active volcanism during the same period.
As lava ...
located in
Iceland
Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...
. It is situated in the south of the country along the western boundary of the
Þjórsárdalur
Þjórsárdalur (, ) is a valley in Árnessýsla county in Iceland that lies between the mountain Búrfell (Þjórsárdal), Búrfell, alongside the river Þjórsá to the east and the mountain Skriðufell to the west. The valley is quite flat ...
valley.
Name
There are many different mountains in Iceland by the name of Búrfell.
The Icelandic word ''búr'' means ''cage'' or ''pantry'' in English.
Búrfellsvirkjun
In 1918 the power company
Fossafélagið Títan published plans that included a large hydroelectric plant on the mountain.
However, due to lack of funding this came to nothing at the time.
Today
Búrfellsvirkjun, at the foot of the mountain as well as in the mountain itself, is one of the biggest hydroelectric power stations of Iceland.
It started working in 1972 after being erected mainly to produce energy for the aluminium factory (
Alcan
Alcan was a Canadian mining company and aluminum manufacturer. It was founded in 1902 as the Northern Aluminum Company, renamed Aluminum Company of Canada in 1925, and Alcan Aluminum in 1966. It took the name Alcan Incorporated in 2001. During ...
) in
Straumsvík in the vicinity of
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the Capital city, capital and largest city in Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland on the southern shore of Faxaflói, the Faxaflói Bay. With a latitude of 64°08′ N, the city is List of northernmost items, the worl ...
. It is producing at the moment 270 MW.
[see]
E.B. Hreinsson: Climate change and its impact, p.3 (PDF) download: 23.7.2010
/ref>
A lot of the tubes as well as the main power station are lying in tunnels within the mountain.
The Viking farm museum of Þjóðveldisbær is also situated at the foot of this mountain.
See also
*Geology of Iceland
The geology of Iceland is unique and of particular interest to geologists. Iceland lies on the divergent boundary between the Eurasian plate and the North American plate. It also lies above a hotspot, the Iceland plume. The plume is believed ...
* Volcanism of Iceland
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burfell (Thjorsardal)
Tuyas of Iceland
Mountains of Iceland
Pleistocene volcanoes