[2] It is one of five volcanic systems found in the axial rift zone in north-east Iceland.

[1] There is a central volcano and a fissure swarm which is part of the Northern Volcanic Zone.

[4] The largest recent fissure eruption was 3200 years ago and produced the Búrfellshraun lava flow which is 75 km2 (29 sq mi) in area.

[4] Tectonically the system forms an eastern limit to the faulting of the Tjörnes fracture zone.

Other extensional faults in the northern 60 km (37 mi) have had seismic activity consistent with propagation of dykes without eruption in the Holocene.