Eldgjá

Eldgjá
Canyon floor of Eldgjá
Highest point
Elevation	varies: canyon to 800 metres (2,625 ft)
Listing	List of volcanoes in Iceland
Coordinates	63°58′00″N 18°36′33″W / 63.96667°N 18.60917°W / 63.96667; -18.60917Coordinates: 63°58′00″N 18°36′33″W / 63.96667°N 18.60917°W / 63.96667; -18.60917
Geography
Eldgjá Location in Iceland
Location	Iceland
Geology
Mountain type	Fissure vents of Katla
Last eruption	934

Eldgjá (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈɛltcau], "fire canyon") is a volcano and a canyon in Iceland. Eldgjá and the Katla volcano are part of the same volcanic system in the south of the country.

Situated between Landmannalaugar and Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Eldgjá is the largest volcanic canyon in the world, approx. 40 km long, 270 m deep and 600 m wide at its greatest. It was discovered by Þorvaldur Thoroddsen in 1893. The first documented eruption in 934 (or 939) was the largest flood basalt in historic time. The areal extent of the lava is around 800 km². An estimated 18 km³ of magma poured out of the earth.

There is a waterfall named Ófærufoss within the canyon. A natural bridge across the waterfall vanished in 1993 due to excess water from melting ice.

The northern part of Eldgjá, including Ófærufoss, and surrounding areas, have been a part of Vatnajökull National Park since 2011.