Volcano Litli Hrutur 2023, Fagradalsfjall

Iceland, Reykjanes

Litli Hrútur/Fagradalsfjall, July 2023

16-22 July 2023

The bad luck that faithfully supported me in 2021 was reversed in August 2022 a little step more. But in July 2023 the Litli Hrútur eruption should be

an direct hit with its spectacular volcano scenery and best weather conditions. Third attempt!

Like already in 2022 during the approach to Keflavik airport, the red hot spot could be identified in the wide volcanic activity landscape of the Litli

Hrutur / Keilir area..

Of course you should be placed on the right side of the aircraft. Like so often I was sitting on the wrong site :-(. A bad presign ??? No!

Images & Cinema

Finally! after more than a week of roads and paths closure, the area was literally stormed by numerous volcano enthusiasts.

A view through the telephoto lens shows a heat-processed image caused by the lava flows lain in front of the cauldron. The crater is about 2 km away from here.

The reason for the complete closure was the still the uncertain course of the eruption.
Also large-scaled moss fires heavily smoked the entire area. Volcanic sulfur dioxide was also probably involved

.

This official map ? shows the crack in the Fargradalsfjall area

Drone flights

video 1          video 3

The circumstance of this eruption was a "MUST TO USE" drones.

Only this way unique and spectacular aerial photos could be taken.

Crater wall collapse

After the collapse of the western wall a huge mass of lava was expanding very fast (estimated 5-10m/s) in the field.

The diameter of the liquid plate was apprx. 300-400m by a thickness of may 5m to 10m.

drone flight video 2

Impressive 'Gate to inner Earth'



drone flight video 4    drone flight video 5

Vertical drone flight over the bubbling crater. Height about 50m. Critical CPU overheating was already displayed. And so up, up, up!



The drone survived indeed!

Lava & air structures over the crater

The heat of the lava cauldron is braking up the air and generates the streaking effect

Also nice to see the shadows cast in the volcanic gas of the lava fragments

Photos were taken with 600mm telelens (900mm apsc) by super clear and quite front air.The lava is still flowing directly from the south side of the crater.

Distanced impressions

The lava is still flowing directly from the south side of the crater.

Lava action close up ...

The gap in the boiler..



Due to the high lava level in the pot, the approximately 30-40m high west wall was literally 'softened' by the heat.

Consequently around 4 o'clock in the morning it collapsed in an impressive show and left a large gap.



Afterwards the bowl appeared a little shredded. Well, the boilers from the Fargradalsfjall aren't any good anymore...

The lava is now flowing to the west and the approximately 300m x 400m lava plate in its liquid state offered a fantastic view of the unique event.

After the lava has accumulated in the see, the flow moved south again.

That's how it should be :-)!

The bubbling cauldron and lava flows up to 30 m wide radiated an enormous heat with the support of the lava lake in front of it.

This could still be clearly felt from about 400m away.

Emergency personell an other services down at the Litli Hrutur.

The last impression. With the fog the final curtain has fallen for an unique natural spectacle

bæ bæ ..

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