This is how Iceland names a new volcano

Icelanders finally named an active volcano.
(Image credit: BERNARD MERIC/AFP/Getty Images)

A rural district in Iceland was forced to convene for the naming of a volcano, which began erupting last year. Claiming a population of only 371, the tiny town of Skútustaðahreppur decided to officially stick with the name "Holuhraun," which was what the lava field had been called during the time that it technically did not have a name:

The council had four proposed names for the site, which were: Flæðahraun, Holuhraun, Nornahraun, and Urðarbruni.In the final decision, two councilors voted for the name Holuhraun, one councilor voted for Nornahraun and one voted for Urðarbruni. The fifth council member left the meeting and did not vote. […] It might sound vaguely silly for a committee to officially name geographic features which clearly already have a name — but in Iceland the land is in constant flux and it is important for brand new features to have officially recognized names. In this case, it is fortunate that the new official name is the same as the old unofficial one. [Iceland Review]

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.