Height and Shape of Mount Hekla

Abstract

I NOTICE that there is a mistake in regard to the height, of Hekla in the map which accompanies my account of the eruption of February 27, 1878, for which I fear I am alone responsible. It is there stated to be 4,950 feet. The real height is 4,961 Danish feet = 5,108 English feet. The height has been frequently misstated. Sometimes it is asserted to be 5,700 feet, while on the other hand it has been placed as low as 4,300. It is not probable that the height has altered during the last century, for although some writers have asserted that the mountain lost 500 feet during the eruption of 1845, it has been satisfactorily proved that the crater of 1845 opened in the side of the mountain below the principal craters. The previous eruption was in 1772. Hekla is often spoken of as if it were the only volcano in Iceland, while in reality the whole island is dotted over with volcanic vents, of which Hekla is indeed the most frequently active, but by no means the highest. In fact, there are four higher mountains in the island, the highest being Oraefa Jokull—6,426 English feet.