The Múlakvísl (Icelandic pronunciation: ​[ˈmuːlaˌkʰvistl̥]) is a river in the south of Iceland on the western side of Mýrdalssandur.

Múlakvísl
A view of the Múlakvísl, looking towards Hjörleifshöfði in the background and the Atlantic Ocean
Location
Country	Iceland
Region	Southern Region
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Mýrdalsjökull
• coordinates	63.6306°N 19.8834°W / 63.6306; -19.8834
Mouth
• location	Between Vík í Mýrdal and Mýrdalssandur
• coordinates	63.4°N 18.8834°W / 63.4; -18.8834
Basin features
River system	Múlakvísl

Glacier flow

The river has a glacier flow which draws its water from the Mýrdalsjökull, mainly through the glacier tongue Kötlujökull. The river's floods are usually of gray-brown color, since it carries much sediment with it.[1]

At Selfjall, about 10 km (6.2 mi) east of the village Vík í Mýrdal, the Ring Road goes across a bridge over the Múlakvísl.

Jökulhlaups

As increasing water levels of this river are an important indicator of Katla's upcoming volcanic eruptions, it is closely monitored.

1955

A predecessor of the present bridge was demolished in 1955, during a jökulhlaup with 2,500 m³/s of water. A fissure formed on Katla in 1918 in the caldera of the volcano, and a kettle had formed upon the glacier. This showed volcanic activities under the glacier, which in turn initiated the jökulhlaup. However, there was no real outbreak in 1955.[1]

July 2011

On 9 July 2011, another jökulhlaup occurred, which was already anticipated hours and days before because of a series of quakes at up to 10 km (6.2 mi) depth in the Katla region.[2][3] There was a small volcanic eruption under the glacier similar to 1955.[4] A jökulhlaup again destroyed the Ring Road bridge of the Múlakvísl, which was only 20 years old. A water level early warning system prompted the closing of the bridge and surrounding area, and no one was harmed.[5] By 11 July 2011, the tremor under Katla had calmed down again. On 15 July 2011, 1,500 people were transported via the Múlakvísl by means of special vehicles.[6] On 16 July, a temporary bridge was put into operation on the river.[7]

See also

List of rivers of Iceland

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Múlakvísl.

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