A volcano under a glacier in Iceland erupted Wednesday melting ice, spewing smoke and steam, closing a major road and forcing hundreds of people to flee rising floodwaters.
In addition to forcing hundreds to evacuate, the eruption has now disrupted flights from the US to Europe due to clouds of ash from the volcano.
The most puzzling effect of the eruption, however, is not about damage. It’s about pronunciation.
Think about it. Can you pronounce the glacier, Eyjafjallajökull? Do you even know how to begin?
In honor of incredibly unpronounceable places, here is a list of other equally difficult names to sound out (click on the name for pronunciation):
10. Lower North Branch Little Southwest Miramichi River, Canada
9. Ougadougou, Burkina Faso
8. Uusikaupunki, Finland
7. Szczebrzeszyn, Poland
6. Zamyn-Üüd, Mongolia
5. Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland
4. Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Wales
3. Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu, New Zealand
2. Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg, Webster, Mass.
1. Missouri, US of A
*Missouri, you ask? Yes, it gives some people some trouble: