Geology and geodiversity of the Folafótur peninsula (Westfjords, Iceland)

Abstract

Geological and geomorphological field surveys and mapping have been carried out in the Folafótur peninsula (Westfjords, Iceland), a remote territory characterized by spectacular landscapes resulting from the interaction of volcanic, tectonic, and glacial processes. The Geological and Geomorphological Map of the Folafótur Peninsula (1:10,000 scale) is the first detailed map showing the relationships between geology and landscapes in the Westfjords of Iceland. The map also highlights the main geodiversity and cultural sites, which together make up the overall value of the geoheritage of the study area, illustrating Earth’s geodynamics and geomorphological processes related to climate changes and their connections with human history. Our research contributes to the understanding of the geodiversity of the Folafótur peninsula, providing for the first time a description of geological and geomorphological characteristics of this area, crucial for the assessment of its geoheritage.