Skjaldbreiður

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/skjaldbreiur

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Skjaldbreiður?170 km²
2. How high is Skjaldbreiður?1,066 m (3,497 ft)
3. What is the location?Southwestern Iceland, straddling the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
4. What is the volcanic type?Shield volcano
5. When did Skjaldbreiður erupt?The volcano started erupting about 9,500 years ago and kept erupting for many thousands of years. Its most recent eruption was around 3,600 years ago.
6. Why is Skjaldbreiður important for Iceland's history?Because the lava made the beautiful Þingvellir area, the first Icelandic parliament chose that spot to meet. Þingvellir is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Shield Volcano: A volcano with a broad, gently sloping profile formed by effusive eruptions of fluid lava.
Mid-Atlantic Ridge: A divergent oceanic ridge system marking the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Rift Valley: A large elongated depression with steep walls formed by the downward displacement of a block of the earth's surface.
Effusive Eruption: A volcanic eruption characterized by the relatively gentle outpouring of lava.