Jólnir () was formerly a

volcanic island Geologically, a volcanic island is an island of volcanic origin. The term high island can be used to distinguish such islands from low islands, which are formed from sedimentation or the uplifting of coral reefs (which have often formed ...

south of

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 was a former vent of

Surtsey Surtsey ("Surtr's island" in Icelandic, ) is an uninhabited volcanic island located in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago off the southern coast of Iceland. At Surtsey is the southernmost point of Iceland. It was formed in a volcanic eruption whi ...

, along with Syrtlingur and Surtla. It emerged from the ocean as a result of active

plate tectonics Plate tectonics (, ) is the scientific theory that the Earth's lithosphere comprises a number of large tectonic plates, which have been slowly moving since 3–4 billion years ago. The model builds on the concept of , an idea developed durin ...

between December, 1965 and July, 1966. Oceanic

erosion Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as Surface runoff, water flow or wind) that removes soil, Rock (geology), rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust#Crust, Earth's crust and then sediment transport, tran ...

cyclically wore down the new

lava Lava is molten or partially molten rock (magma) that has been expelled from the interior of a terrestrial planet (such as Earth) or a Natural satellite, moon onto its surface. Lava may be erupted at a volcano or through a Fissure vent, fractu ...

as it formed, and the island sank below the surface several times.Brief description from Dartmouth
, (at the end of the report)The Surtsey Research Society, ''The Surtsey Eruption 1963-1967''
/ref> It was named for Jólnir, a Norse god (usually identified as a second name for

Odin Odin (; from ) is a widely revered god in Norse mythology and Germanic paganism. Most surviving information on Odin comes from Norse mythology, but he figures prominently in the recorded history of Northern Europe. This includes the Roman Em ...

). Jólnir's formation is closely linked to that of neighboring volcanic island,

, which emerged in 1963.

Volcanic eruption A volcanic eruption occurs when material is expelled from a volcanic vent or fissure. Several types of volcanic eruptions have been distinguished by volcanologists. These are often named after famous volcanoes where that type of behavior h ...

s 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 Volcanic cones are among the simplest volcanic landforms. They are built by ejecta from a volcanic vent, piling up around the vent in the shape of a cone with a central crater. Volcanic cones are of different types, depending upon the nature and s ...

mafic A mafic mineral or rock is a silicate mineral or igneous rock rich in magnesium and iron. Most mafic minerals are dark in color, and common rock-forming mafic minerals include olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, and biotite. Common mafic rocks include ...

tephra Tephra is fragmental material produced by a Volcano, volcanic eruption regardless of composition, fragment size, or emplacement mechanism. Volcanologists also refer to airborne fragments as pyroclasts. Once clasts have fallen to the ground, ...

developed. The

reached 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 The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the ...

's waves rapidly eroded the volcanic island. Near the end of September 1966, the island disappeared below the Atlantic Ocean's surface.

References

External links

Photograph
and brief description from United States Armed Forces newspaper Stars and Stripes.
Another photograph of Jólnir in 1966

about

and Jólnir Islands of Iceland Volcanoes of Iceland Ephemeral islands Active volcanoes Vestmannaeyjar Submarine volcanoes {{Iceland-geo-stub

See also

References

External links