Búrfell (Þjórsárdal)

Búrfell (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈpurˌfɛtl̥]) is a 669 m (2,195 ft) basalt tuya located in Iceland.[1] It is situated in the south of the country along the western boundary of the Þjórsárdalur valley.

Búrfell (Þjórsárdal)
Búrfell as seen from the south, with the Þjórsá in the foreground
Highest point
Elevation669 m (2,195 ft)
Coordinates64°05′13″N 19°49′40″W
Geography
LocationIceland
Geology
Mountain typeTuya
Climbing
Easiest routeHike

Name

There are many different mountains in Iceland by the name of Búrfell, f. ex. Búrfell (Grímsnes), Búrfell (Þingvellir) and Búrfell (Mývatn).

The Icelandic word búr means cage or pantry in English.

Búrfellsvirkjun

In 1918 the power company Fossafélagið Títan published plans that included a large hydroelectric plant on the mountain. However, due to lack of funding this came to nothing at the time.[2] Today Búrfellsvirkjun, at the foot of the mountain as well as in the mountain itself, is one of the biggest hydroelectric power stations of Iceland. It started working in 1972 after being erected mainly to produce energy for the aluminium factory (Alcan) in Straumsvík in the vicinity of Reykjavík. It is producing at the moment 270 MW.[3]

A lot of the tubes as well as the main power station are lying in tunnels within the mountain.

The Viking farm museum of Þjóðveldisbær is also situated at the foot of this mountain.

See also

References
  1. Elias, Scott A.; Mock, Cary J. (2013). "Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science". Elsevier. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. HNIT (April 2003), Urriðafossvirkjun í Þjórsá allt að 150 MW og breyting á Búrfellslínu 2 (PDF) (Environmental Impact Assessment Report) (in Icelandic), Landsvirkjun, archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-10-24, retrieved 2017-05-21
  3. see: E.B. Hreinsson: Climate change and its impact, p.3 (PDF) download: 23.7.2010
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