Hey Shawn. An Icelander here with some geology courses behind me from the University of Iceland re-education institute. I regularly take visitors through that area. The cave there was used throughout the ages as a shelter until back in 1910 when a 22 year old man with his 17 year old wife, started living there. The guy closed off the cave opening and built the house front. They stayed there for 1 year while operating a roadside "shop" there, earning money to move out and build a home elsewhere. 2nd couple then moved in in 1918 and stayed for about 4 years. The last of their kids that lived there with them died in 2013 and called himself the last living caveman in Iceland... haha. Anyway, a decade ago or so I was traveling there and could spend some time there so I went into that ravine there without knowing anything about the area only to discover that amazing place. Just an amazing place for pillow lava in this country.
Totally forgot about visiting that cave / house back in the early 1980s. You definitely put things in to context. We were just in awe of the geologic oddities all over the area.
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Fascinating area....so many questions as I see this, and you answered them. Gorgeous pillow lava, water and magma explosiveness and why, Hyaloclastite volcanic breccia, palagonite, the layering!, the extensive views.... great video. Thank you Shawn.
People have lived in that cave house until approx the 1940's. There's great tales about life in that house that are told when you visit it during opening hours. Recommended if you want to learn a bit about life in Iceland in previous centuries.
Satisfying to see the various types of aged formations you discuss when talking about the current eruptions in Iceland. I didn’t know I had room in my life to compartmentalize my new obsession with geology and volcanoes….thanks Shawn for expanding my brain synapses and enhancing my vision of the Earth’s topography.
Fantastic photography of the pillow lava and eroded tuffs. I hope folks appreviate some of the loose sketchy scrambles Shawn undertakes to take us along on these geologic explorations...!
After visiting the 2022 eruption we went off the beaten path too, so to speak, but went up North to the Westfjords. What a drive and no crowds to speak of, some of the most beautiful scenery in Iceland. Love that place and plan to go back. We saw a brochure for tours at the "Cave People" home is how the brochure put it, so I'm surprised it was closed if they run tours there.
What an interesting gully. I wonder what the first Icelanders thought of these rock types and formations. The house is interesting. I can't help but wonder about it's history. Since that's such a severe climate, I would think that a rock shelter house would be easier to heat and maintain in the winter. It also makes me wonder about floods in the gully. This video has woken up my anthropology background. I'm truly amazed by the different forms that magma takes in different conditions and influences. Thank you.
I think the set table inside the dugout home, locked door and the relatively new red generator and cable connected outside suggests that It is still inhabited.
Loved those pillow lava!! Finally, I “get it”. Wondering about that black basaltic tuff: the shape is so smooth, is that the way it forms when it lands, or is it smooth due to wind and water? That is, would it be considered a ventiform? Thanks for the great lessons.
The tuff can be quite soft in places and prone to wind and water erosion, although wind erosion is always overhyped and not much of a factor in a place like this.
I've wondered this before...do those radial fractures on pillow lavas form the same way columnar basalts form... as the lava cools from the outside in?
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Hey Shawn. An Icelander here with some geology courses behind me from the University of Iceland re-education institute. I regularly take visitors through that area. The cave there was used throughout the ages as a shelter until back in 1910 when a 22 year old man with his 17 year old wife, started living there. The guy closed off the cave opening and built the house front. They stayed there for 1 year while operating a roadside "shop" there, earning money to move out and build a home elsewhere. 2nd couple then moved in in 1918 and stayed for about 4 years. The last of their kids that lived there with them died in 2013 and called himself the last living caveman in Iceland... haha.
Anyway, a decade ago or so I was traveling there and could spend some time there so I went into that ravine there without knowing anything about the area only to discover that amazing place. Just an amazing place for pillow lava in this country.
Totally forgot about visiting that cave / house back in the early 1980s. You definitely put things in to context. We were just in awe of the geologic oddities all over the area.
You can support my field videos by clicking on the "Thanks" button just above (right of Like button) or by going here: www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=EWUSLG3GBS5W8
Those pillow lavas are so nice you'd fall asleep just looking at them.
Gotta love ‘Glassy Rinds’! Awesome video!
Yes! Thank you!
Thank you! What a fascinating place!
Your videos are always so interesting, plus they make me want to go and see it for myself!
You should!
Fascinating area....so many questions as I see this, and you answered them. Gorgeous pillow lava, water and magma explosiveness and why, Hyaloclastite volcanic breccia, palagonite, the layering!, the extensive views.... great video. Thank you Shawn.
Thx Prof for another interesting geo-adventure. Well done ✌🏻
People have lived in that cave house until approx the 1940's. There's great tales about life in that house that are told when you visit it during opening hours. Recommended if you want to learn a bit about life in Iceland in previous centuries.
Satisfying to see the various types of aged formations you discuss when talking about the current eruptions in Iceland. I didn’t know I had room in my life to compartmentalize my new obsession with geology and volcanoes….thanks Shawn for expanding my brain synapses and enhancing my vision of the Earth’s topography.
Wow! Thank you for the tour! I was wondering what the pillow lavas looked like! 😊❗️
Fantastic photography of the pillow lava and eroded tuffs. I hope folks appreviate some of the loose sketchy scrambles Shawn undertakes to take us along on these geologic explorations...!
He's part mountain goat.
Love pillow lava.
This is just a wow location. Thanks so much for the tour and the information. Great video - thanks so much!
Thanks!
Thanks for your kind donation. Glad you enjoyed this adventure.
That house built inside of the rock looks awesome.
After visiting the 2022 eruption we went off the beaten path too, so to speak, but went up North to the Westfjords. What a drive and no crowds to speak of, some of the most beautiful scenery in Iceland. Love that place and plan to go back.
We saw a brochure for tours at the "Cave People" home is how the brochure put it, so I'm surprised it was closed if they run tours there.
Ah! This one especially.
Amazing examples of pillow lavas, thanks for the video. Such an education. Thanks Shawn. 69 like .............
What an interesting gully. I wonder what the first Icelanders thought of these rock types and formations. The house is interesting. I can't help but wonder about it's history. Since that's such a severe climate, I would think that a rock shelter house would be easier to heat and maintain in the winter. It also makes me wonder about floods in the gully. This video has woken up my anthropology background. I'm truly amazed by the different forms that magma takes in different conditions and influences. Thank you.
I think the set table inside the dugout home, locked door and the relatively new red generator and cable connected outside suggests that It is still inhabited.
Yes, and the Native Icelandic solar panel and wind-turbine ...
No one lives there. A local sometimes comes out and charges for a brief tour of the home and stories.
❤
Loved those pillow lava!! Finally, I “get it”. Wondering about that black basaltic tuff: the shape is so smooth, is that the way it forms when it lands, or is it smooth due to wind and water? That is, would it be considered a ventiform? Thanks for the great lessons.
The tuff can be quite soft in places and prone to wind and water erosion, although wind erosion is always overhyped and not much of a factor in a place like this.
I've wondered this before...do those radial fractures on pillow lavas form the same way columnar basalts form... as the lava cools from the outside in?
Yes. Fractures develop perpendicular to cooling surfaces which can be ground below lava or air above.
Shawn, do you think the ice headed off and turned the lava around, so to speak
No, the lava eventually wins in this fight as the ice keeps melting. The ice can only keep the volcano in check for so long.
@shawnwillsey okay, Thank you
Any basement rocks exposed in Iceland?
Not in the classic sense. No metamorphic rocks and no rocks older than 30 or so million years.
Thanks!
Thanks for your kind donation. Much appreciated.
Thanks!
Thanks for your kind donation!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks so much!