Lesson plan
Surtshellir
Surtshellir ( ) is a lava cave located in western Iceland, around 60 km from the settlement of Borgarnes. Approximately a mile in length, it is one of the longest such caves in the country. It was the first known lava tube in the world, at least by modern speleologists, and remained the longest known lava tube until the end of the 19th century. While mentioned in the medieval historical-geographical work Landnámabók, Eggert Ólafsson was the first to give a thorough documentation of the cave in his 1750 travels of the region. It is named after the fire giant Surtr, a prominent figure in Norse mythology, who is prophesied to one day engulf the world in the fire of his flaming sword. Surtshellir was formed as a lava tube in a massive, effusive, shield-volcano eruption at the northern end of the Prestahnúkur volcanic system. At least three and possibly four vents opened on the edge of Langjökull glacier during this long-lived eruption, which has been dated to the first decades of Iceland's settlement (c. 880-920). Ultimately, the eruption covered 240 km 2 (90 mi 2 ) of once fertile grazing and settled land beneath sheets of lava 20 meters thick, or more. Surtshellir is one of 20 known caves in the Hallmundarhraun lava field that once carried magma from the vents to the farthest ends of the lava field, more than 50 km to the west.…
Article summary
Surtshellir ( ) is a lava cave located in western Iceland, around 60 km from the settlement of Borgarnes. Approximately a mile in length, it is one of the longest such caves in the country. It was the first known lava tube in the world, at least by modern speleologists, and remained the longest known lava tube until the end of the 19th century. While mentioned in the medieval historical-geographical work Landnámabók, Eggert Ólafsson was the first to give a thorough documentation of the cave in his 1750 travels of the region. It is named after the fire giant Surtr, a prominent figure in Norse mythology, who is prophesied to one day engulf the world in the fire of his flaming sword. Surtshellir was formed as a lava tube in a massive, effusive, shield-volcano eruption at the northern end of the Prestahnúkur volcanic system. At least three and possibly four vents opened on the edge of Langjökull glacier during this long-lived eruption, which has been dated to the first decades of Iceland's settlement (c. 880-920). Ultimately, the eruption covered 240 km 2 (90 mi 2 ) of once fertile grazing and settled land beneath sheets of lava 20 meters thick, or more. Surtshellir is one of 20 known caves in the Hallmundarhraun lava field that once carried magma from the vents to the farthest ends of the lava field, more than 50 km to the west.…
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.