Jökull - 01.12.2003, Page 48

Thordarson et al.
Table C: Lava flows, continued.
Date Index Source Quotation
19 June C19 2, p. 62 ...the flow split up, one branch advanced eastward along the mountain [Skálarheiði], but another due south along the
channel of the river Melakvísl. ...part of this lava was so high that it was equal the height of Múli next to the farm Skál
or about 60 fathoms high. In forcing its way along the slopes the flow pushed itself under the soil cover and bundled it
up like a cloth. [One fathom is equal to 1.67 m; 60 fathoms = 100 m].
20 June C20 2, p. 62 ...the lava continued to advance as before and flowed eastwards burning low lying grounds in front of the farm Skál
and all the way east to Krókstorfa. ...The branch which advanced down the riverbed of Melakvísl continued flowing due
south. ...This day a few farmers went to explorewhat the eruption was doing north in the pasture area. Lava had advanced
eastwards towards the middle of the pasture and destroyed good quality grass fields. Little more than two thirds of the
pasture area was lost under lava along with swan-hunting and bird-nesting grounds (which provided the inhabitants with
eggs), fields where Iceland-moss and roots from angelica were picked, which was part of the inhabitants’ diet.
20 June C21 6, p. 296 ...an exploratory party went as far north into the highlands as possible to investigate the status there. Those who knew
the highlands recognised that the fires emerged from three small lava streams in the northern part of the pasture (almost
“dagleið” to the west from the glaciers), located on a flat fluvial plain north of the Hellisá River. The valley [Varmár-
dalur] where the inhabitants of Síða picked roots was east of the lava streams. Activity increased with loud cracking,
ejecta, ashy cloud, yes a storm emerging from the earth. The lava streams grew steadily and covered more ground as
they moved away from the source until they merged into one main stream, which flowed like molten copper, first into
above mentioned valley and when it was filled, the lava threw itself westwards off the mountains above the southwestern
part of the Síða district, into the Skaftá River gorge. [“Dagleið” was a day’s journey on a horse,∼25 km].
21 June C22 2, p. 62 This Saturday when the lava passed over the Melakvísl rapids, it ran very rapidly across the Steinsmýrarfljót River and
onto the Stekkjatún grass fields north of the farm Hólmasel.
22–23 June C23 2, p. 63 ...this day and the following day the lava advanced eastwards down the river bed of the river Steinsmýrarfljót and stopped
just west of the farm Efri-Steinsmýri.
23–26 June C24 2, p. 63 ...the lava flowed steadily out from the Skaftá River gorge and earthquakes were felt in between, intensive thunder and
lightning occurred all around us.
24 June C25 4, p. 17 ...men from Skaftártunga district went to explore what was happening to the north of the settlement;. they saw that the
lava had emerged from the channel of Hellisá River, here in the pasture.
29 June C26 4, p. 18 Now, for the third time, an enormous lava surge came from above us [i.e., from north], so the area between Skaftártunga
district and Árfjall mountain was once again like one continuous fire. [This is the fourth lava surge from the Skaftár
River gorge].
29 June–12
July
C27 2, p. 64 ...the flow of lava did not dwindle a bit, either day or night. However, the flow was pulsating, sometimes more and
sometimes less.
13 July C28 2, p. 64 ...the lava swelled up and flowed east towards Dælur and Fjarðará River, blocked the river in its gorge, then followed its
channel advancing beyond the promontory. Then part of the lava flowed onto the Dalbær moorlands and covered them
with lava, but bulk of the lava rushed into the gorge and then over the high waterfall Stapafoss, filling the large and deep
gorge with lava to the brim, which continued for four days. At that time the gorge could not contain the lava, which
then advanced over the grass fields of the monasterial farm Dalbær and then up to the farmhouse, which it smouldered
to ashes and then buried it by thick lava.
14 July C29 4, p. 21 ...the same day as the lava advanced over the waterfall [i.e., Stapafoss], the fourth and the last lava surge emerged from
Skaftá River gorge, with intensive boiling, cracking and clapping, and enormous din, like everything was going berserk.
[This is the fifth lava surge from the Skaftá River gorge].
18 July C30 4, p. 22 The activity was most intense on 18 July and I [Steingrímsson] couldn’t help thinking that all hell was breaking loose.
18 July C31 2, p. 65 ...here all around us, such threats from thunder, lightning; creaking and cracking sounds went on that not a minute was
missed out for two whole days. Never had so much gone on since the gjá [Útnorðursgjá] started to erupt.
21 July C32 4, p. 23 ...after this day no loud rumbling sounds were heard from this Vesturgjá, despite those fires were seen and lava continued
to flow from it into September.
29 July C33 4, p. 26 ...this day rumble and boiling sound was first heard northeast of mountain Kaldbakur, in the strike of a high mountain
called Blængur. [Onset of activity on fissure 6 to the northeast of Laki Mountain].
30 July C34 4, p. 26 ...thunder, rumbles and cracking sounds were heard almost continuously from all sides.
31 July C35 4, p. 26 ...a steam cloud was seen advancing down the Hverfisfljót River gorge. [In the earlier Eldrit Steingrímsson says this to
have happened on 3 August. See also Thordarson this issue].
in July C36 4, p. 25 ...all that month along with August and September the lava continued to flow out of the Skaftá River gorge, but in late
September the flow dwindled and stopped. At this time sheep and other goods were taken over the lava flow west of
Skaftárdalur, because the lava that was still flowing further up in the pasture area kept the rivers to the north of the
Skaftárdalur farm dry.
3 August C37 2, p. 66 ...people noticed that the water in Hverfisfljót River was getting warmer. The temperature increased steadily, until it
finally dried up.
3–4 August C38 4, p. 26 ...along with flowing lava to the north of the mountains, which dried up Hverfisfljót River.
7 August C39 4, p. 26 ...the first lava surge emerged from the Hverfisfljót River gorge. On 8 and 9 August it advanced down the one of channels
of the river Hverfisfljót, the one which was closest to the eastern margin of Síða district towards the south-southwest.
The lava flowed far out onto the sandur plain, beyond the hill Orustuhóll. ...on the eastern side [of the gorge] it advanced
a short distance beyond Dalshöfði. [This was the first lava surge from Landnorðursgjá that emerged from the Hverfisfljót
River gorge. The lava flow front was between Kaldbakur and Dalshöfði mountains on 7 August but on 9 August it had
advanced beyond Þverárfjall mountain].
46 JÖKULL No. 53, 2003