Múlakvísl
| Múlakvísl | |
|---|---|
A view of the Múlakvísl, looking towards Hjörleifshöfði in the background and the Atlantic Ocean
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| Country | Iceland |
| Region | Southern Region |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source |
Mýrdalsjökull 63°37′50″N 19°53′00″W / 63.6306°N 19.8834°W |
| River mouth | Between Vík í Mýrdal and Mýrdalssandur 63°24′00″N 18°53′00″W / 63.4°N 18.8834°WCoordinates: 63°24′00″N 18°53′00″W / 63.4°N 18.8834°W |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Múlakvísl |
The Múlakvísl is a river in the south of Iceland on the western side of Mýrdalssandur.
The river has a glacier flow which draws its water from the Mýrdalsjökull, mainly through the glacier tongue Kötlujökull. The river's floods are usually of gray-brown color, since it carries much sediment with it.
At Selfjall, about 10 km (6.2 mi) east of the village Vík í Mýrdal, the Ring Road goes across a bridge over the Múlakvísl.
As increasing water levels of this river are an important indicator of Katla's upcoming volcanic eruptions, it is closely monitored.
A predecessor of the present bridge was demolished in 1955, during a jökulhlaup with 2500 m³/s of water. A fissure formed on Katla in 1918 in the caldera of the volcano, and a kettle had formed upon the glacier. This showed volcanic activities under the glacier, which in turn initiated the jökulhlaup. However, there was no real outbreak in 1955.
On 9 July 2011, another jökulhlaup occurred, which was already expected hours and days before due to a series of quakes at up to 10 km (6.2 mi) depth in the Katla region. There was a small volcanic eruption under the glacier similar to 1955.
A jökulhlaup again destroyed the Ring Road bridge of the Múlakvísl, which was only 20 years old. Due to a jökulhlaup warning by a water level early warning system, the road was blocked for traffic about an hour before the destruction of the bridge, so no one was harmed. By 11 July 2011, the tremor under Katla had calmed down again. On 15 July 2011, 1,500 people were transported via the Múlakvísl by means of special vehicles. On 16 July a temporary bridge was put into operation on the river.
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Wikipedia