MarketList of volcanic eruptions in Iceland
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List of volcanic eruptions in Iceland

This is an incomplete list of volcanic eruptions in Iceland. Please see External links below for databases of Icelandic eruptions which include over 530 events.

Index map of eruptions, fissures, glaciers and notable sites
{{Location map+|Iceland|width=900|float=centre|places= {{Location map~|Iceland |mark=Mountain sign.svg {{Location map~|Iceland|mark=Mountain sign.svg |lat_deg=64|lat_min=38|lat_sec=27.6 |lat_dir=N |lon_deg=17|lon_min=31|lon_sec=40.8 {{Location map~|Iceland |mark=Mountain sign.svg ==Alphabetic index of eruptions, fissures and notable sites==
Alphabetic index of eruptions, fissures and notable sites
(Under construction.) )'' caldera in 1984.See "Askja index" (and Víti, geothermal lake, in the foreground)See "Askja index" 1875 – Ashfall drift from one of the largest ash eruptions in Icelandic history. Eruption from Víti and other craters began on 28 March and lasted for about eight hours. Heavy ash damage in the middle of East Iceland caused farms to be deserted, and East Fjord people moved to the West. See "Askja index" and Holuhraun 2014.See Bárðarbunga index, Holuhraun index , a remnant pluton on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. July 2010.See Eldey index , about 13 kilometres off the coast of the Reykjanes Peninsula, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. See Eldey index volcano, August 2014. Island of Heimaey, Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands). See Eldfell index, Vestmannaeyjar Islands index volcano. January 1973, Houses buried by ash. See Eldfell index, Vestmannaeyjar Islands index volcano, January 1973. Water was pumped onto this lava flow to halt its advance down the street. See Eldfell index, Vestmannaeyjar Islands index (right) and Helgafell (left) in 2006. The fissure from the 1973 eruption is visible running from the lower left to the center of the image. See Eldfell index, Helgafell index, Vestmannaeyjar Islands index fissure ("fire gorge"). See Eldgjá index . See Eldgjá index mountain range. See Esja index as seen from Perlan. See Esja index north of Jökulsárlón as nunataks of Vatnajökull glacier.See Esjufjöll index eruption column in 2010.See Eyjafjallajökull index 's largest outlet glacierGígjökull, covered in volcanic ash.See Eyjafjallajökull index and the aurora.See Eyjafjallajökull index taken from Route 1 in August 2009.See Eyjafjallajökull index eruption on 27 March 2010. See Eyjafjallajökull index , watching the Geldingadalir eruption 2021. See Fagradalsfjall index eruption, seen from Reykjavík on 9 May 2021.See Fagradalsfjall index eruption on 16 July 2021.See Fagradalsfjall index The new eruption fissures. See Fagradalsfjall index , The new eruption fissures to the left, the older ones to the right, seen from a helicopter, view to the east.See Fagradalsfjall index among the Fuglasker islands.See Geirfuglasker index 1996 eruption: Jökulhlaup over Skeiðarársandur, the piedmont glacier Skeiðarárjökull and Öræfajökull in the background.See Gjálp index , outlet glacier.Svínafellsjökull in the background.It took some time to fill the subglacial lake of Grímsvötn and break the ice wall.See Gjálp index Island skyline, on the Arctic Circle.See Grímsey index . The volcanic crater Kerið in October, one of many craters within the volcanic system.See Grímsnes index, Kerið index . Kerið, a volcanic craters within the Grímsnes system.See Grímsnes index, Kerið index , volcanic crater on Grímsnes. See Grímsnes index, Kerið index . The volcanic crater Kerið frozen over in early April.See Grímsnes index, Kerið index and the Vatnajökull glacier, July 1972. Including the Skaftá eruption of 1783, Grímsvötn is probably the most eruptive volcano system in Iceland. The Laki/Lakagígar lava field alone is estimated to have produced about of lava. Grímsvötn has probably had more than 30 eruptions in the last 400 years, and produced around over the last 10,000 years. Askja Askja is an active volcano in the central highlands. It is a complex of nested calderas within the Dyngjufjöll mountains. The Askja system includes, for example, the Herðubreið tabular volcano, the Herðubreiðartögl palagonite ridge, and the shield volcanoes Kollóttadyngja, Flatadyngja and Svartadyngja. (Part of the North volcanic zone (NVZ)). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Askja 11,000, Askja 1874, Askja 1875-January, Askja 1875-February, Askja 1875-March, Askja 1876, Askja 1921, Askja 1922, Askja 1923, Askja 1926, Askja 1929, Askja 1961. Bárðarbunga Bárðarbunga is an active stratovolcano located under the Vatnajökull glacier. It is the second highest mountain in Iceland, above sea level, and part of a volcanic system that is approximately long and wide. Historically there are large eruptions every 250–600 years. Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Bárðarbunga ca.6600-6700 BC, Bárðarbunga 877, Bárðarbunga 1477, Bárðarbunga 1701-1864, Bárðarbunga 1910, Bárðarbunga 1996, Bárðarbunga 2010, Bárðarbunga 2014-15. See Chronology of Eruptions below: Eldfell Eldfell is a volcanic cone on the island of Heimaey. It formed in a volcanic eruption which began without warning on the eastern side of Heimaey, in the Westman Islands, on 23 January 1973. The eruption caused a major crisis for the island and led to its temporary evacuation. Volcanic ash fell over most of the island, destroying around 400 homes, and a lava flow threatened to close off the harbour, the island's main income source via its fishing fleet. An operation was mounted to cool the advancing lava flow by pumping sea water onto it, which was successful in preventing the loss of the harbour. Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ). See Eruptive Chronology below: Eldfell 1973 Eldgjá Eldgjá is a volcano and canyon that is part of the Katla volcano; a segment of a chain of volcanic craters and fissure vents that extends northeast away from Katla. Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Eldgjá 934 or 939 Esja / Esjan Esja (Esjan) is a mountain situated in the southwest of Iceland, about ten kilometres north of Iceland's capital city Reykjavík. Esja is not a single mountain, but a volcanic mountain range, made from basalt and tuff. Esja was built up at the end of the Pleistocene with the beginning of the Ice Age. During the warm periods lava flowed, and in the cold periods ridges of tuff were built up under the glacier. The western part of the mountain range is the oldest (about 3.2 million years) and the eastern part is the youngest (about 1.8 million years). Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Ezjá 3,200,000, Ezjá 1,800,000 Esjufjöll Esjufjöll is a subglacial volcano at the southeastern part of the Vatnajökull icecap. It is a strict nature reserve. The volcanic system consists of the Snaehetta central volcano with a large caldera. Most of the volcano, including the 40 km2 caldera, is covered by the icecap. On the other hand, are parts of the SE flank exposed in NW-SE-trending ridges. Most of the exposed rocks are mildly alkaline basalts, but there are also small amounts of rhyolitic rocks.) See Chronology of Eruptions below: Eyjafjallajökull Eyjafjallajökull (E15), which is under an ice cap, has erupted relatively frequently since the Last Glacial Period, most recently in 2010, disrupting international travel. Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Eyjafjallajökull 1612, Eyjafjallajökull 1821-23, Eyjafjallajökull 2010 March, Eyjafjallajökull 2010 April Fagradalsfjall Fagradalsfjall is an active tuya volcano formed in the Last Glacial Period on the Reykjanes Peninsula, around from Reykjavík. Fagradalsfjall is also the name for the wider volcanic system covering an area wide and long between the Svartsengi and Krýsuvík systems. No volcanic eruption had occurred for 815 years on the Reykjanes Peninsula until 19 March 2021. Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Fagradalsfjall 2021, Fagradalsfjall 2022, Fagradalsfjall 2023 Festarfjall Festarfjall is an exposed tuya mountain on the south coast of the Reykjanes Peninsula near the Fagradalsfjall volcanic system and Grindavík. The flat-topped volcano formed under the ice sheet in the Last Glacial Period on the Reykjanes Peninsula. (Part of the North volcanic zone (NVZ)). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Fremrinámur 800 BC. Geirfuglasker Geirfuglasker ("Great Auk Rock") was a small islet near Reykjanes, Iceland, a volcanic rock with steep sides except for two landing places. It submerged beneath the waves in 1830, due to a volcanic eruption. Later a new Geirfuglasker appeared on the site. (Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ)). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Geirfuglasker 1830. Gjálp Gjálp is a hyaloclastite ridge (tindar) under the Vatnajökull glacier shield. It originated in an eruption series in 1996, which is probably part of the Grímsvötn volcanic system, It was the first modern technical monitoring and analysis of a subglacial eruption under a thick ice cover with a resulting jökulhlaup. The volume of meltwater was around . The Vatnajökull glacier is part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Gjálp 1938, Gjálp 1996. Grensdalur Grensdalur is a volcano that was active during Pleistocene. Part of the South Iceland Seismic Zone (SISZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Grensdalur 2,500,000 Grímsey Grímsey is a small island, off the north coast of the main island of Iceland, where it straddles the Arctic Circle. (However, due to long-term oscillations in the Earth's axis, the Arctic Circle is shifting northward by about per year. As of 2020, the place where the line crosses the island is close to the northern tip and by the middle of the 21st century it will pass north of Grimsey altogether.) Part of the Kolbeinsey Ridge (KR). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Grímsnes Grímsnes is a fissure or crater-row volcanic system. Part of the South Iceland Seismic Zone (SISZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Grímsnes 3500 BC. Kerið Kerið is a volcanic crater lake located in the Grímsnes area in south Iceland, along the Golden Circle. It is one of several crater lakes in the area, known as the Western Volcanic Zone, created as the land moved over a localized hotspot, but it has the most visually recognizable caldera still intact. The caldera, like the other volcanic rock in the area, is composed of a red (rather than black) volcanic rock, and is approximately deep, wide, and across. Kerið's caldera is one of the three most recognisable volcanic craters because at approximately 6,500 years old, it is only half the age of most of the surrounding volcanic features. The other two are Seyðishólar and Kerhóll. Although originally believed to have been formed by a volcanic explosion, studies of the Grímsnes region failed to find any supporting evidence. So it is now believed that Kerið was a cone volcano which erupted and emptied its magma reserve. Once the magma was depleted, the weight of the cone collapsed into the empty magma chamber. The current pool of water at the bottom of the crater is at the same level as the water table and is not caused by rainfall. See Chronology of Eruptions below: Kerið 6,500 BP. Grímsvötn Grímsvötn is an active volcano with a (partially subglacial) fissure system located in Vatnajökull National Park. Including the Skaftá eruption of 1783, Grímsvötn is probably the most eruptive volcano system in Iceland. The Laki/Lakagígar lava field alone is estimated to have produced about of lava. Grímsvötn has probably had more than 30 eruptions in the last 400 years, and produced around over the last 10,000 years. During the Middle Ages it was known as the "Gateway to Hell". It is part of a volcanic ridge, long. Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Hekla 5000 BC, Hekla 3900 BC, Hekla 2500 BC, Hekla 1000-900 BC, Hekla 800, 1104, 1158, 1206, 1222, 1300, 1341, 1389, 1440, 1510, 1554, 1597, 1636-37, 1693, 1725, 1766-68, 1845-46, 1878, 1913, 1947-48, 1970, 1980-81, 1991, Hekla 2000. See also Hekla Eruptive activity below Helgafell (on Snæfellsnes Peninsula) Helgafell is a small mountain on Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Part of the Snæfellsnes volcanic belt (SVB). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Helgafell (on Heimaey island) Helgafell (on Heimaey), formed from a secondary eruption on the Stórhöfði peninsula on the island Heimaey, Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands). Hofsjökull Hofsjökull is a subglacial shield volcano with caldera, formed during the Last Glacial Period. The Hofsjökull glacier is Iceland's third-largest ice cap after Vatnajökull and Langjökull. It is the largest active volcano in the country, situated in the west of the Highlands See chronology below: Hofsjökull 2,500,000-11,000, Hofsjökull 2015 Holuhraun Holuhraun is a lava field just north of the Vatnajökull ice cap, in the Icelandic Highlands, in Suður-Þingeyjarsýsla, Northeastern Region. The lava field was created by fissure eruptions. (Part of the North volcanic zone (NVZ)). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Holuhraun 2014-15 Hrómundartindur Hrómundartindur is a mountain north of Hveragerði. Hvalbakur Hvalbakur, a small, uninhabited island, is the easternmost point of Iceland. Located in the Austurland region, offshore, it is long and up to wide, with its highest point above sea level. It appears on maps from 1761. See Chronology of Eruptions below: Hvannadalshnúkur Hvannadalshnúkur is a pyramidal peak on the northwestern rim of the summit crater of the Öræfajökull volcano in Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland. Its summit is the highest point in the country. Hveravellir Hveravellir is a geothermal field of the Oddnýjarhnjúkur-Langjökull subglacial volcanic system in the north of Langjökull glacier. Part of the West volcanic zone (WVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Hveravellir 5,800 BC, Hveravellir 1000 BC Hverfjall Hverfjall (Hverfell) is a tephra cone or phreatomagmatic eruption in northern Iceland. The eruption was in the southern part of the Krafla fissure swarm. (Part of the North volcanic zone (NVZ)). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Hverfjall 500 BC Iceland hotspot The Iceland hotspot is a hotspot that is partly responsible for the high volcanic activity which has formed the Iceland Plateau and the island of Iceland. Iceland's location astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasian and North American Plates are moving apart, is partly responsible for this intense volcanic activity, but an additional cause is necessary to explain why Iceland is a substantial island while the rest of the ridge mostly consists of seamounts, with peaks below sea level. As well as being a region of higher temperature than the surrounding mantle, the hotspot is believed to have a higher concentration of water. The presence of water in magma reduces the melting temperature, which may also play a role in enhancing Icelandic volcanism. Ingólfsfjall Ingólfsfjall is a tuya in the vicinity of Hveragerði, originating from subglacial eruptions and consisting mostly of basalt and palagonite. Part of the South Iceland Seismic Zone (SISZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Ingólfsfjall 400,000 Jólnir Jólnir was a volcanic island off the south coast between December 1965 and July 1966. It was a vent of Surtsey, along with Syrtlingur and Surtla. Over the following eight months, it appeared and disappeared several times, as wave erosion and volcanic activity alternated in dominance, until oceanic erosion led to its final disappearance. Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Jólnir 1963 Katla - Katla; Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Katla 10,000, Katla 1000 BC, Katla 751, Katla 822, Katla 920, Katla 934, Katla 1000, Katla 1179 , Katla 1245, Katla 1311, Katla 1357, Katla 1416, 1480, 1580, 1612, 1625, 1660, 1693, 1721, 1755, 1821, 1860, 1918, 1955. See also Katla Eruptive activity below Keilir Keilir is a Pleistocene subglacial mound or perhaps a conical tuya on Reykjanes Peninsula. It is part of the Krýsuvík volcanic system and Reykjanesfólkvangur, and is about southwest of Reykjavík. Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Keilir 2,500,000-11,000 Kerlingarfjöll Kerlingarfjöll is a mountain range in the Highlands of Iceland near the Kjölur highland road. It is part of a large tuya volcano system with hot springs and rivulets, as well as red volcanic rhyolite stone. See Chronology of Eruptions below: Kolbeinsey Kolbeinsey is a small basalt islet, devoid of vegetation, in the Greenland Sea located off the northern coast of Iceland, north-northwest of the island of Grímsey. It is the northernmost point of Iceland and lies north of the Arctic Circle. Kolbeinsey is subject to rapid wave erosion and is expected to disappear in the near future. Erosion rate data from 1994 suggested that this would happen around 2020. , two small skerries remained visible at low tide. Kolbeinsey is the only subaerial expression of this portion of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It formed during the late Pleistocene (from 2.58 million to 11,700 years ago) (or Holocene). Dredged glass shards indicate submarine eruptive activity during the late Pleistocene until at least 11,800 radiocarbon years ago. Part of the Kolbeinsey Ridge (KR). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Kolbeinsey Ridge Kolbeinsey Ridge is a segment of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge located in the Arctic Ocean. It is bounded to the south by the Tjörnes Fracture Zone, which connects the submarine ridge to the on-shore Northern Volcanic Zone rifting center in eastern Iceland. The volcanic islands Kolbeinsey and Grímsey lie along the ridge. Part of the Kolbeinsey Ridge (KR). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Kollóttadyngja Kollóttadyngja is a shield volcano in the Ódáðahraun lava-field. The summit crater contains a bowl about 150 metres in diameter with a depth of about 60–70 metres. Part of the North volcanic zone (NVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Krafla Krafla is a volcanic caldera about 10 km in diameter with a fissure zone. It is located in the north of Iceland in the Mývatn region and is situated on the Iceland hotspot atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which forms the divergent boundary between the North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate. Its highest peak reaches up to and it is 2 km in depth. There have been 29 reported eruptions in recorded history. Part of the North volcanic zone (NVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Krafla 500BC, Krafla 900, Krafla 1724-29, Krafla 1746, Krafla fires 1975, Krafla fires 1977 April, Krafla fires 1977 September, Krafla fires 1980 March, Krafla fires 1980 July, Krafla fires 1980 October, Krafla fires 1981 January, Krafla fires 1981 November, Krafla fires 1984 Krakatindur Krakatindur is a volcano in the county of Rangárvallasýsla. Located east of Hekla, it is part of the Nýjahraun lava field. It is 858 meters high and last erupted in 1878. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Krakatindur 1878 Krýsuvík Krýsuvík is a fissure swarm without a central volcano, situated on the divergent tectonic plate boundary of the Reykjanes peninsula. Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Krýsuvík 100,000, Krýsuvík 1151-1188 Kverkfjöll Kverkfjöll is a mountain range situated on the northeastern border of the Vatnajökull glacier, between the Vatnajökull glacier and the Dyngjufjöll mountains. Part of the North volcanic zone (NVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Kverkfjöll 1655, Kverkfjöll 1711-12, Kverkfjöll 1729, Kverkfjöll 1929 Laki / Lakagígar Laki is a volcanic fissure that bisects Laki mountain in the western part of Vatnajökull National Park. Lakagígar is part of the Grímsvötn volcanic system. The pollution from the 1783 eruption led to the deaths of over 50% of Iceland's livestock, and the destruction of the vast majority of crops. The resulting famine then killed approximately a quarter of the island's human population. The eight-month emission of sulfuric aerosols resulted in one of the most important climatic and socially significant natural events of the last millennium, triggering up to 6 million deaths worldwide. Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Laki 1783-84 Landmannalaugar Landmannalaugar is a lava field in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve in the Highlands, on the edge of the Laugahraun lava field. Part of the West volcanic zone (WVZ). Associated volcanoes: Hveravellir, Prestahnúkur Ljósufjöll Ljósufjöll is a fissure vent system and central volcano on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. The eruption in CE is the only one on the peninsula in recorded history. Part of the Snæfellsnes volcanic belt (SVB)). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Ljósufjöll 960 Loki-Fögrufjöll Loki-Fögrufjöll is a subglacial volcano under the Vatnajökull glacier, within the Bárðarbunga fissure system. It is independent of Bárðarbunga itself. Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Loki-Fögrufjöll 1910, Loki-Fögrufjöll 1986, Loki-Fögrufjöll 1991, Loki-Fögrufjöll 2006, Loki-Fögrufjöll 2008, Loki-Fögrufjöll 2011. Lýsuhóll Lýsuhóll, also known as Lysukard or Helgrindur, is the smallest volcano in Iceland. It is centrally located on Snaefellsnes Peninsula. It includes a chain of small, basaltic cinder cones. Part of the Snæfellsnes volcanic belt (SVB). The last eruption of Lysuhóll is not dated. The tiny skerry called Eldeyjarboði may be its remnants. (Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ)). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Nýey 1783, Öræfajökull Öræfajökull is an ice-covered active volcano within the Vatnajökull National Park. (Part of the Öræfajökull volcanic belt (OVB)). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Öræfajökull 1357, Öræfajökull 1727 Prestahnúkur Prestahnúkur is a volcano in the Central Highlands, a part of the Langjökull glacier. It consists of rhyolite and has a small magma chamber. (Part of the North volcanic zone (NVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Prestahnúkur 3350 BCE (?), Reykjanes The Reykjanes Volcanic System is one of the volcanic systems on Reykjanes Peninsula, and consists of (volcanic and tectonic) fissures and faults directed mostly NE–SW. It is part of Reykjanes Volcanic Belt like the 3–6 (depending on author) other volcanic systems on Reykjanes Peninsula. No volcanic eruption had occurred for 815 years on the Peninsula until 19 March 2021, when a fissure vent appeared in Geldingadalir to the south of Fagradalsfjall mountain. Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ). See Fagradalsfjall in index. See Chronology of Eruptions below: Reykjanes peninsula 1206, Fagradalsfjall 2021, Fagradalsfjall 2022, Fagradalsfjall 2023 Reykjaneshryggur Reykjaneshryggur Snæfell Snæfell, at high, is the tallest subaerial stratovolcano in Iceland. Located in the north-east part of Vatnajökull National Park, it has been dormant in the Holocene, but is known to have had repose times of over 100,000 years between eruptions. (Part of the Öræfajökull volcanic belt (OVB)). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Snæfellsjökull Snæfellsjökull is a 700,000-year-old stratovolcano. The only large central volcano on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, it has many pyroclastic cones on its flanks, plus upper-flank craters and lower-flank basaltic lava flows. Several Holocene eruptions have originated from the summit crater and have produced felsic material. (Part of the Snæfellsnes volcanic belt (SVB)) See Chronology of Eruptions below: Snæfellsjökull 700,000, Snæfellsjökull circa 50-350 CE Stóra-Eldborg undir Geitahlíð Stóra-Eldborg undir Geitahlíð. See Chronology of Eruptions below: Stóra-Eldborg undir Geitahlíð 400BC Sundhnúkur Current/ongoing event – See 2023–2025 Sundhnúkur eruptions Sundhnúkur is near Grindavik on the Reykjanes peninsula. No volcanic eruption had occurred for 815 years on the Reykjanes Peninsula until 19 March 2021. See Fagradalsfjall index) Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Sundhnúkur 2023, Sundhnúkur 2023.12.18, Sundhnúkur 2024.01.14, Sundhnúkur 2024.02.08, Sundhnúkur 2024.03.16,Sundhnúkur 2024.05.29, Sundhnúkur 2024.08.22 Surtsey Surtsey is a volcanic island located in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago off the southern coast. It was formed in a volcanic eruption which began below sea level, and reached the surface on 14 November 1963. The eruption lasted until 5 June 1967, when the island reached its maximum size of . The most recent survey (2007) shows the island's maximum elevation at above sea level. Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Surtsey 1963 Theistareykjarbunga Theistareykjarbunga (Þeistareykjarbunga); Part of the North volcanic zone (EVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Theistareykjarbunga 9500 BC, Theistareykjarbunga 6800 BC, Theistareykjarbunga 900 BC Þingvellir / Thingvellir Þingvellir is notable for its tectonic and volcanic environment in a rift valley. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge passes across the Þingvellir National Park. The continental drift between the North American and Eurasian Plates can be clearly seen in the cracks or faults and rifts which traverse the region. The largest, , is a significant canyon. Earthquakes are frequent in the area. subglacial volcanoes beneath the Vatnajokull glacier in Iceland. There is a mechanical interaction between Thordarhyrna and Grimsvötn, despite these volcanoes being relatively far apart. Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Thórðarhyrna 3550 BC ± 500, Thórðarhyrna 1887-1889, Thórðarhyrna 1902-1904, Thórðarhyrna 1910 Thórólfsfell Þórólfsfell is a basaltic tuya in southern Iceland, east of Fljótshlíð. The upper section is made up of pillow lavas and is 574 metres above sea level. Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Þrándarjökull / Thrándarjökull Þrándarjökull is a small glacier in eastern Iceland, from Vatnajökull glacier. It has an elevation of . Part of the Öræfajökull volcanic belt (ÖVB). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Thríhnúkagígur Thríhnúkagígur (Three Peaks Crater) is a dormant volcano in the volcanic system of Brennisteinsfjöll near Reykjavík, Iceland. Covering a area and a depth of , it has not erupted in the past 4000 years. It opened for tourism in 2012, the only volcano in the world where visitors can take an elevator into the magma chamber. The magma that would normally fill the chamber and become sealed is believed to have drained away, revealing the rift beneath the surface. Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Thríhnúkagígur 4,000 BP Tindfjallajökull Tindfjallajökull is a stratovolcano in the south of Iceland. It has erupted rocks of basaltic to rhyolitic composition, and a 5-kilometre-wide caldera was formed during the eruption of the 54,000-year-old Thórsmörk Ignimbrite. It is capped by a glacier of . Its highest peak is Ýmir. See Chronology of Eruptions below: Tindfjallajökull 54,000 Tjörnes Fracture Zone Tjörnes Fracture Zone is a submarine volcano situated northeast of Iceland, between the fjords of Öxarfjörður and Skjálfandi. It is a series of underwater fissure vents that last erupted from 1867 to 1868. The Tjörnes Fracture Zone (TFZ) connects the North Volcanic Zone to the Kolbeinsey Ridge (KR), which is part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It contains its own volcanic systems, which are smaller than those in the Mid-Iceland Belt. It is one of two major and active transform faults zones striking west-northwest in northern and southern Iceland. Torfajökull Torfajökull is a rhyolitic stratovolcano, caldera (central volcano), and complex of subglacial volcanoes, located north of Mýrdalsjökull. The 1477 eruption created the largest area of silicic extrusive rocks in Iceland. The 870 eruption, a combined bimodal eruption (rhyolite-basalt) with additional engagement of the Bárðarbunga-Veiðivötn volcanic system, has left a thin layer of easily recognized mixed tephra all over Iceland (Landnámslag). This layer makes it possible to determine the exact dates of many archaeological finds by so-called tephrochronology, like in the Reykjavík 871±2 museum. See Chronology of Eruptions below: Torfajökull 870, Torfajökull 1477 Trölladyngja Trölladyngja, situated in the Ódáðahraun lava field, is the biggest Icelandic shield volcano, with a height of and rising almost 600 metres above the surrounding desert and lava fields. It is about 10 kilometres in diameter. Its oblong crater is about 1,200 to 1,500 metres in length, 500 metres broad, and about 100 metres deep. Most of its lava fields have flowed in a northerly direction, with one branch of it reaching the valley of Bárðardalur, a distance of roughly 100 km. It is not to be confused with the Krýsuvík-Trölladyngja volcanic system on the Reykjanes Peninsula. (Part of the North volcanic zone (NVZ)) See Chronology of Eruptions below: Trölladyngja 1961, (Note : there are claims (Trölladyngja) that the last eruption was 5,000 years ago.) Tungnafellsjökull Tungnafellsjökull is a glacier and volcano in Iceland. It has an elevation of and is located northwest of Vatnajökull glacier. (Part of the Mid-Iceland Belt (MIB)) See Chronology of Eruptions below: Vatnafjöll Vatnafjöll is a basaltic fissure vent system. It is part of the same system as Hekla. More than two dozen eruptions have occurred at Vatnafjöll during the Holocene Epoch. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) See Chronology of Eruptions below: Vatnafjöll 800 Vatnajökull Vatnajökull ("Glacier of Lakes", "Vatna Glacier") is the largest and most voluminous ice cap in Iceland. It is in the south-east of the island, covering approximately 10% of the country. The Vatnajökull glacier embraces seven identified subglacial volcanoes, of which the best-known are Grímsvötn, Bárðarbunga, and Öraefajökull. (See Grímsvötn index, Bárðarbunga index, Herðubreið index, Holuhraun index, Kverkfjöll index, Laki index, Loki-Fögrufjöll index, Öræfajökull index and Thordarhyrna index.) Vatnajökull glacier is part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Vatnajökull 900, Vatnajökull 905, Vatnajökull 940, Vatnajökull 1060, Vatnajökull 1160, Vatnajökull 1332, Vatnajökull 1477, 1480, 1655, 1681, 1702, 1706, 1716, 1717, 1725, 1766, 1823, 1872, 1876, 1985, 1996 Vatnaöldur Vatnaöldur. See Chronology of Eruptions below: Vatnaöldur 870; Veiðivötn Veiðivötn; Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Veiðivötn 6700BC;; Veiðivötn 1200BC; Veiðivötn 940, Veiðivötn 1477. See: Veiðivötn image in Gallery. Vestmannaeyjar Vestmannaeyjar is in the Westman Islands, an archipelago off the south coast. The largest island is Heimaey. Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ). See Chronology of Eruptions below: Stórhöfði peninsula 6,000 BP, Helgafell (volcano) 3,000 BC, Surtsey 1963, Jólnir 1963, Eldfell 1973 Viðey Viðey (caldera) is at Reykjavík. About two million years ago during the Pleistocene, Viðey was an active volcano with a massive caldera. The remains of the caldera are much larger than the modern island itself, with the island near the caldera's center. The rest of the caldera underlies a large part of what is now Kollafjörður. The underwater eruption that formed Viðey island stopped circa 9,000 years ago. (Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ)) See Chronology of Eruptions below: Viðey 2,600,000-9,000 Westfjords Westfjords is a large peninsula in northwestern Iceland, a remnant of the North Atlantic Igneous Province. See Chronology of Eruptions below: ==Chronological list of eruptions==
Chronological list of eruptions
Prehistoric eruptions Dates are approximate. Please see individual articles that may have more date detail. • 16,000,000 years ago – the oldest known rock in Iceland was formed in a lava eruption. The age of the basaltic strata from west to east is 16–10 million years. (See Geology of Iceland – Origins) • Circa 3,200,000 years ago (Plio-Pleistocene) – Esjan (Esja) – The western part is about 3.2 million years and the eastern part is about 1.8 million years. The movements of the plate boundaries are continually moving the strata to the west and away from the active volcanic zone. (Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ)) • 2,600,000-9,000 years ago – Viðey About two million years ago during the Pleistocene, Viðey was an active volcano with a massive caldera. (Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ)) • 2,500,000-11,000 years ago – Hofsjökull, subglacial volcano is a shield type with caldera. The third largest ice cap after Vatnajökull and Langjökull and the largest active volcano in the country, situated in the west of the Highlands • Circa 1,800,000 years ago (Plio-Pleistocene) – Esjan (Esja) – The western part is about 3.2 million years and the eastern part is about 1.8 million years. The movements of the plate boundaries are continually moving the strata to the west and away from the active volcanic zone. (Part of the South Iceland Seismic Zone (SISZ)) • 100,000 years ago – Keilir, volcanic cone on the Reykjanes peninsula, in the Krýsuvík (volcanic system). (Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ)) • 54,000 years ago – Tindfjallajökull, (stratovolcano), a -wide caldera was formed during Thórsmörk (ignimbrite) eruption. • 11,000 years ago – Askja-S. Tephra found in Norway, Sweden, Northern Ireland, and Romania. (Part of the North volcanic zone (NVZ)) • Circa 10,600 years ago – Katla. It is thought that Katla is the source of more than of tephra 'Vedde Ash' found at a number of sites including Vedde in Norway, Denmark, Scotland and North Atlantic cores. • Circa 9,500 BC Theistareykjarbunga (Þeistareykjarbunga). The first of three dated eruptions, produced approximately 18 billion cubic metres of basaltic lava. (Part of the North volcanic zone (NVZ)) • circa 9,000 years ago – Skjaldbreiður lava shield formed in one huge and protracted eruption. The lava flowed south and formed the basin of Þingvallavatn, Iceland's largest lake. • 8230 BC – Grímsvötn The eruption was VEI 6, producing some of tephra, resulting in the Saksunarvatn tephra. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • Circa 6,800 BC Theistareykjarbunga (Þeistareykjarbunga). The second of three dated eruptions. The Þjórsá lava field is up to in area and flowed over to the sea and forms the coast between Þjórsá and Ölfusá. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) Note: Bárðarbunga 6600 BC is also described as "about 8,600 years ago, with a total volume of 21 • Circa 5,800 BC – Hveravellir? The Kjalhraun (hraun means "lava field") lava field is about 7,800 years old. • 5000 BC – Hekla (H5). The first acidic eruption in Hekla. The ash layer H5 is found in soil in the central highlands and in many parts of the North. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • Circa 6,500 BP – Kerið, is a volcanic crater lake located in the Grímsnes area. It is believed that Kerið was a cone volcano which erupted and emptied its magma reserve. Once the magma was depleted, the weight of the cone collapsed into the empty magma chamber. The pool of water at the bottom of the crater is at the same level as the water table and is not caused by rainfall. • 5000 BP – Bláfjöll Volcanic System, lava flow reached Reykjavík west. (Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ)) • 3350 BCE (?) – Prestahnúkur, volcano in the west of the Highlands of Iceland to the west of Langjökull glacier. (Part of the North volcanic zone (NVZ). • 3,900 BC – Hekla H-Sv • 3550 BC Thórðarhyrna, An eruption in 3550 BC ± 500 years poured out 150,000,000 cubic meters of lava in the area of Bergvatnsárhraun, to the south of Thordarhyrna. • 3500 BC – Grímsnes, VEI 3. The Grímsneshraun lava-fields in the area cover a total of . The total volume of lava produced in the lava flows of Grímsnes has been estimated at . (Part of the South Iceland Seismic Zone (SISZ)) • 5200 BP – Leitin, a Holocene, effusive eruption, shield volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula, south of Reykjavík. Part of the Brennisteinsfjöll volcanic system and therefore of the Reykjanes Volcanic Belt. (Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ)) • 3,000 BC – Helgafell formed from a secondary eruption on the Stórhöfði peninsula. The eruption is detectable in Greenland ice cores, the bristlecone pine sequence, and the Irish oak sequence of extremely narrow growth rings. A research team led by Baker dated it to 1021 BC ±130. Some Egyptologists have dated the eruption to 1159 BC, and blamed it for famines under Ramesses III during the wider Bronze Age collapse. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • Circa 900 BC Theistareykjarbunga (Þeistareykjarbunga). The third of three dated eruptions. It is at the junction of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the Greenland–Iceland–Faeroe Ridge. (Part of the North volcanic zone (NVZ)) • circa 500 BC – Hverfjall (Hverfell) is a tephra cone or Phreatomagmatic eruption in northern Iceland. The eruption was in the southern part of the Krafla fissure swarm. (Part of the North volcanic zone (NVZ)) • 400 BC Stóra-Eldborg undir Geitahlíð (Eldborgir) erupted, and the lava flowed 2.5 km to the sea. • 300 BC Mývatn, large fissure eruption pouring out basaltic lava. The lava flowed down the valley Laxárdalur to the lowland plain of Aðaldalur where it entered the Arctic Ocean about away from Mývatn. The crater row that was formed on top of the eruptive fissure is called Þrengslaborgir (or Lúdentsborgir). (Part of the North volcanic zone (NVZ)) Common era (CE), Anno Domini (AD) • 150 AD ± 75 years (Part of the West volcanic zone (WVZ)) • Circa 50-350 CE Snæfellsjökull, The latest eruption took place circa 50-350 CE and released approximately of volcanic material. The eruption was explosive and originated from the summit crater, and may have produced lava flows. (Part of the Snæfellsnes volcanic belt (SVB)) • Note. The Volcanic winter of 536 was the most severe and protracted episode of climatic cooling in the Northern Hemisphere in the last 2,000 years. The source of the eruption remains to be found. Icelandic volcanos were proposed. However, the cryptotephras dated exactly to AD 536 are geochemically distinct from Icelandic tephra, and the shards in the Swiss glacier have large age uncertainty. • Grímsvötn 753 ± 2 From ice core data The first eruption since human settlement of Iceland was the Vatnaöldur (Bárðarbunga) eruption, which had a volcanic explosivity index (VEI) of 4. • 900 – Rauðhálsahraun in Hnappadalur (:is: Hnappadalur) • 905 – Vatnajökull. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 920 – Reykjanes, location uncertain, but tuff layer from the eruption is known. (Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ)) • 920 – Katla (ash layer called Katla-R). (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 939 (or 934) – Katla and Eldgjá: VEI 6. Dated now to 939 ± 2 CE. of magma.) Evidence from tree rings in the Northern Hemisphere indicates that 940 was one of the coolest summers in 1500 years. Summer average temperatures in Central Europe, Scandinavia, Canada, Alaska, and Central Asia were 2 °C lower than normal. Probably the earthquake from which Molda-Gnúpur and his people fled according to "Settlement". Landnáma also tells about the formation of Sólheimasandur (:is:Sólheimasandur) in the great course of the Jökulsá river. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 940 – Vatnajökull / Veiðivötn (:is:Veiðivötn) (volcanic layer in NA-land) (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 960 – Ljósufjöll is a fissure vent system and central volcano on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. This CE eruption is the only one on the peninsula in recorded history. 11th century • – Vatnajökull. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) 12th century • 1104 – Hekla (H1). Its first and greatest eruption in historical time. Heavy ash fall to the north and northeast. Þjórsárdalur was destroyed, including the farm named Stöng (Þjóðveldisbærinn Stöng) (:is: Stöng (bær)). (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1151-1188 Krýsuvík fires (:is: Krýsuvíkureldar). Volcanic activity in a fissure swarm known as Krýsuvík on the Reykjanes peninsula. Eruption in Ögmundarhraun and Kapelluhraun. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • - ? in Vatnajökull (Vatnajökli). (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1160-1180 – Two eruptions in the sea off Reykjanes (ash layer known). (Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ)) • 1179 – Katla. Sources are unclear, but ash layers found in Greenland Glaciers. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1188 - ? Rjúpnadyngju lava flow and Mávahlíða lava flow. Rjúpnadyngjuhraun og Mávahlíðahraun runnu 13th century • 1206 – Hekla, eruption number 3. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1206 – Reykjanes peninsula. 1206? Information and No volcanic eruption had occurred for 815 years on the Reykjanes Peninsula until 19 March 2021 when a fissure vent appeared in Geldingadalir to the south of Fagradalsfjall mountain. • 1341 – Hekla, eruption number 6. The ash spread west through Borgarfjörður and Akranes. Great death, especially in Rangárvellir (:is: Rangárvellir) and many settlements were destroyed. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1341 - ? Grímsvötn. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1341 – (± 1 year) Brennisteinsfjöll, a VEI-2 eruption. • 1354 - ? Grímsvötn. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1357 – Katla. Extensive eruption and damage. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1362 – Knappafellsjökull. The largest ash eruption in Icelandic history. Litla-Hérað (Öræfasveit) was completely destroyed and few seem to have escaped. The group was called Öræfi when it started to rebuild and the glacier Öræfajökull. Most of the ash was carried east to the sea, but destroyed much of Hornafjörður and Lónshverfi along the way. Jökulhlaup to Skeiðarársandur and out to sea. (Part of the Öræfajökull volcanic belt (OVB)) • 1372 – north-west of Grímseyjar • 1389-1390 – in and around Hekla, eruption number 7. Norðurhraun lava flows, Skarð, Tjaldastaðir and maybe more farms are subsumed. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1477 – Landmannalaugar in the Highlands of Iceland. It is at the edge of Laugahraun lava field, which was formed around 1477. Note: This remote event appears to also be referred to as Bárðarbunga, the largest known Icelandic eruption, with a VEI of 6. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • about 1500 – in Vatnajökull. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) 16th century • 1510 – Hekla eruption number 8. A large eruption with heavy ash fall to the south. The largest Hekla lava field from historical times. Extensive land degradation in Rangárvallasýsla as a result. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1554 – Vondubjallar southwest of Hekla. The eruption lasted for 6 weeks in the spring. Red bells formed and from them flowed Pálssteinshraun. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1580 – Katla. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • – at Eldey • 1597 – Hekla, eruption number 9. From 3 January into the summer. Volcanic eruptions were widespread but caused little living space, although mainly in Mýrdalur. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1598 – Grímsvötn. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) 17th century • 1603 – Grímsvötn. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1612 – Katla (and / or Eyjafjallajökull). The eruption began on 16 October, but sources do not agree on location, Katla is considered more likely. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1619 – Grímsvötn. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1625 – Katla, 2–14 September. Large eruption with heavy ash fall to the east. Twenty-five farms were deserted. Þorsteinn Magnússon, abbot of Þykkvabær, wrote a report on the eruption, the first of its kind in Iceland. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1629 – Grímsvötn. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1636-37 – Hekla, eruption number 10 began on 8 May and lasted for over a year. Ash fall to the northeast and little damage. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1637-38 – by the Westman Islands • 1638 – Grímsvötn. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1655 -? probably an eruption in Vatnajökull, probably in Kverkfjöll. Big lava flow in Jökulsá á Fjöllum. • 1659 – Grímsvötn. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1660-61 – Katla. The eruption began on 3 November and lasted until the end of the year. A small ash fall but a large flow on Mýrdalssandur and cut Höfðabrekka off. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1681 – in Vatnajökull. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1684-85 – Grímsvötn. A major lava flow in Jökulsá á Fjöllum, one person died and a number of livestock.. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1693 – Hekla, eruption number 11 began on 13 February and lasted until the autumn. Heavy ash fall to the northwest at the beginning of the eruption which caused great and permanent damage in the surrounding areas. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1693 – Katla. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1697 – in Vatnajökull. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) 18th century • 1701-1864 Bárðarbunga. Studies of tephra layers have shown that a number of eruptions occurred beneath the glacier, probably in the north-east of the crater or in Bárðarbunga. There have also been smaller eruptions in an ice-free area of Dyngjuháls to the north-east. Eruptions appear to follow a cycle: there were several eruptions in the glacier between 1701 and 1740 and since 1780. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1702 – in Vatnajökull. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1706 – in Vatnajökull. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1711-12 – Kverkfjöll • 1716 – in Vatnajökull. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1717 – in Vatnajökull. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1721 – Katla. Heavy ash fall, about and a big lava flow. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1724-29 – Mývatnseldar (:is:Mývatnseldar) (Myvatn Fires, Krafla Fires). Lava flowed into Lake Mývatn and the volcanic "Viti crater" (Hell crater) formed by Krafla volcano. (Part of the North volcanic zone (NVZ)) • 1725 – in Vatnajökull • 1725 – southeast of Hekla. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1726 – in Vatnajökull • 1727 – Öræfajökull, at the glacier roots above Sandfellsskerji. 3 died. (Part of the Öræfajökull volcanic belt (OVB)) • 1729 – Kverkfjöll • 1746 – Mývatnseldar, (:is:Mývatnseldar), (Myvatn Fires, Krafla Fires). 1 eruption. (Part of the North volcanic zone (NVZ)) • 1753 – southwest of Grímsvatn • 1755-56 – Katla. The eruption began on 17 October and lasted until mid-February. A large amount of ash, about , reached the northeast and caused great damage in Skaftártunga, Álftaveri and Síða. A big lava flow on Mýrdalssandur, mostly west of Hafursey. Lightning killed two people. About 50 farms were deserted, most of them only temporarily. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1766 – west of Vatnajökull, probably in Bárðarbunga. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1766-68 – Hekla, eruption number 12. The largest lava eruption of Hekla in historical time. Ash fall in Húnavatns- and Skagafjarðarsýsla counties. 10 lands were deserted. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1774 – Grímsvötn. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1783 – Nýey. Reykjaneshrygg, southwest of Eldey. The island of Nýey rose from the sea with intense, poisonous, sulphurous smoke, but disappeared in less than a year. (Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ)) • 1783-84 Laki / Lakagigar. ( Skaftáreldar, Grímsvötn, Þórðarhyrna, sometimes referred to in Icelandic as the Skaftáreldur, Skaftá Fires) Lava flowed along Skaftá river valley and Hverfisfljót, down into the lowlands and covered about (including a gorge thought to have been deep). The eruption has been estimated to have killed over six million people globally. Ash fall and poisoning caused hay failure leading to a famine that killed about 25% of the island's population (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1797 – Grímsvötn. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) 19th century • 1807 – Grímsvötn. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1816 – Grímsvötn. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1821 – Katla. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1821-23 – Eyjafjallajökull. The eruption began weakly on 19 December, no lava flowed but some ash fell. Subsequently, lava flowed north to Markarfljót. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1823 – Vatnajökull. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1830 – Eldeyjarboði. Submarine eruption. (Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ)) • 1830 – Geirfuglasker. Submarine eruption. (Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ)) May be the same as adjacent Eldeyjarboði 1830 above. • 1838 – Grímsvötn. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1845-46 – Hekla, eruption number 13 began on 2 September and lasted for about seven months. Heavy ash fall to the southeast and a lava flow in Ytri-Rangá. Lava flowed west and northwest, about , so the farm of Næfurholt had to be relocated. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1854 – Grímsvötn. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1860 – Katla. A small eruption. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • ? 1861 – Grímsvötn. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1862-64 – at Heljargjárrein. The eruption began on 30 June in a long fissure north of Tungnaárjökull. Trollagígar formed there and Tröllahraun flowed from them. • 1867 – Grímsvötn. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1867-68 – Mánáreyjar. Submarine eruption. • 1867-68 – Tjörnes Fracture Zone. Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ) • 1879 – Geirfuglasker. Submarine eruption. • 1883 – Grímsvötn. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • ? 1884 – Near Eldey. Submarine eruption. Unclear sources. • ? 1885 – Grímsvötn. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1887 – Grímsvötn. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1887-1889 Thórðarhyrna, There is a mechanical interaction between Thordarhyrna and Grimsvötn. An eruption between 1887 and 1889 had a VEI of 2. • 1905-06 – Grímsvötn. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1908-09 – Grímsvötn. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1910 – Grímsvötn. Ashfall was observed in the east of the country from June to November. This eruption has been assigned by some to Thórðarhyrna which has geological interactions with Grímsvötn, It may also be linked to the Loki-Fögrufjöll eruption of the same year. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1910 Loki-Fögrufjöll The last confirmed eruption was in 1910 when tephra was erupted. (Part of the Bárðarbunga fissure system. 1910 was the last known eruption of Bárðarbunga before the 2014 eruptions.) One person was killed. It is located at the SE part of the Vatnajökull icecap. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1929 – Askja (Part of the North volcanic zone (NVZ)) • 1929 – Kverkfjöll. A fire was seen for a long time during the summer. • 1933 – Grímsvötn. Small eruption. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1934 – Grímsvötn. The eruption began at the end of March and lasted until mid-April.. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1930s – Gjálp An eruption took place in the 1930s. It had also caused a Jökulhlaup (literally "glacial run") a type of glacial outburst flood), but at the time, science could not yet analyze the events. The eruption remained subglacial. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • ? 1954 – Grímsvötn. Possible eruption. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • ? 1955 – Katla. Probably a small eruption under the glacier. Jökulhlaup took several bridges. No ash or lava seen. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1961 – Askja. Lava eruption began on 26 October on a fissure and lasted until the end of November. (Part of the North volcanic zone (NVZ)) • 1961 – Dyngjufjöll. Basalt and rhyolite eruption within Vatnajökull National Park. (May be either the same as, or associated with, nearby Askja 1961 above.) • 1961 – Trölladyngja. Reports of an eruption in 1961 at Trölladyngja are most likely attributed to nearby Askja Caldera, which erupted the same year. • 1963- 67 – Vestmannaeyjar : Surtsey rose from the sea on 14 November in an underwater eruption southwest of Geirfuglasker. Later, the islands Syrtlingur and Jólnir were formed but soon disappeared again. • 1970 – Hekla, eruption number 15 began on 5 May in the southwestern part of Heklugjár and in Skjólkvíar north of the mountain. Considerable ash fall to NNV, all the way north to Húnavatnssýslur. In the mountain itself the activity stopped after a few days but in Skjólkvíar it erupted for about 2 months. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 1973 – Eldfell, Westman Islands, VEI 3. A eruption fissure opens east of the town Vestamnnaeyar on the island Heimaey on 23 January. About a third of the town was buried under lava, over 400 properties were destroyed. The lava front was cooled by pumping seawater on it, it saved the important harbour entrance. A volcano formed and Heimaey expanded to the east. • 1975 – Krafla fires, 1st eruption 20 December. Lava eruption from a short fissure at Leirhnjúkur. Note: Mývatnseldar (:is:Mývatnseldar), (Myvatn Fires, Krafla Fires), Lake Mývatn and the volcanic "Viti crater" (Hell crater) formed by Krafla. • 2008 Loki-Fögrufjöll Possible subglacial eruption – the last confirmed eruption was in 1910. (Part of the Bárðarbunga fissure system. See Loki-Fögrufjöll 1910 above). (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 2011 Loki-Fögrufjöll Possible subglacial eruption – the last confirmed eruption was in 1910. (Part of the Bárðarbunga fissure system. See Loki-Fögrufjöll 1910 above). was followed on 23 August by the USGS Aviation Color Codes being raised from orange to red, indicating an eruption in progress. The following day, the aviation risk was lowered from red to orange and the statement that there was an eruption in progress was retracted. However, later aerial observations of glacial depressions southeast of the volcano suggested that the now-retracted report of an eruption had been correct and that a short eruption did occur under the ice, but the lack of further melting indicated that this eruption had now ceased. Then, a new fissure eruption breached the surface between Bárðarbunga and Askja, in the Holuhraun lava field, in the early hours of 29 August. This was followed by a second fissure eruption in the Holuhraun area, along the same volcanic fissure, which started shortly after 4 am on 31 August. Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)) • 2021 – Fagradalsfjall. The eruption began in the valley Geldingadalir on 19 March and the lava ("Fagradalshraun") flowed into the Meradalir and Nátthagi valleys. (Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ)) • 2022 – Fagradalsfjall. The eruption began in the valley Meradalir on 3 August on top of a lava flow from the previous year's eruption. (Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ)) • 2023 – Litli-Hrútur eruption (Fagradalsfjall 3). . The eruption began at 16:40 UTC on 10 July, north of the Litli-Hrútur (English translation: Little Ram) volcanic fell, with considerable lava flow. (Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ)) • 2023-2024 – Sundhnúkur eruptions, Reykjanes Peninsula, near Grindavik, :(Main article : 2023–2024 Sundhnúkur eruptions) : A series of lava fissure eruptions began on 18 December 2023 at the Sundhnúkur crater chain () north of the town of Grindavík. No volcanic eruptions had occurred for 815 years on the Reykjanes Peninsula until 19 March 2021. (See Fagradalsfjall 2021) Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ). : - Sundhnúkur first eruption – began on 18 December 2023, around 22:00, at the Sundhnúkur crater chain and ended 3 days later on December 21. See (Main article : December 2023 eruption) : - Sundhnúkur second eruption – began in the early hours of 14 January 2024 (around 7:57 UTC) and ended on 16 January. It resulted in damage by lava to the outskirts of Grindavík. See (Main article : January 2024 eruption) : - Sundhnúkur third eruption – began on 8 February 2024 (around 6:07 UTC), about a kilometre north of Grindavík, in the same area as the December eruption. and lasted for 18 days, ending on 8 December. See (Main article : November 2024 eruption) : - Sundhnúkur eighth eurption – began on 1 April 2025 (at 09:45 UTC) == Volcanic zones and systems ==
Volcanic zones and systems
(For a detail description of the volcanic zones. See : Geological deformation of Iceland) . (light blue oval area) encircling Iceland in the Atlantic Ocean. Iceland has several major volcanic zones surrounding the Iceland hotspot: East volcanic zone (EVZ) The East Volcanic Zone (EVZ), the central volcanoes Vonarskarð and Hágöngur, belong to the same volcanic system. The southern propagating rift region of the EVZ with more tendency to explosive eruption characteristics is known as the Southern Iceland Volcanic Zone (SIVZ). Includes: Bárðarbunga, Bláhnjúkur, Brennisteinsalda, Eldgjá, Eyjafjallajökull, Gjálp, Grímsvötn, central volcano Hágöngur (:is: Hágöngur), Hekla, Katla, Lakagigar, Laki, Þjórsá Lava, Þórólfsfell, Surtsey, Thordarhyrna (Þórðarhyrna), Tindfjallajökull, Torfajökull, Vatnafjöll, several volcanoes in Vatnajökull, Vatnaöldur, Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands), central volcano Vonarskarð. Kolbeinsey Ridge (KR) The Kolbeinsey Ridge is a segment of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge located to the north of Iceland in the Arctic Ocean. It is bounded to the south by the Tjörnes Fracture Zone, which connects the submarine ridge to the on-shore Northern Volcanic Zone rifting center in eastern Iceland. Includes: Öræfajökull Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ) The Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ or Reykjanes volcanic belt, RVB) contains multiple fissure vent orientated volcanic systems including one with a similar name. It is the continuation of the Reykjanes Ridge (RR) (the Mid-Atlantic Ridge south of Iceland and intersects to its north-east at Hengill with the WVZ and the South Iceland seismic zone (SISZ, also known as the Reykjanes fracture zone, RFZ). Includes: Bláfjöll, Brennisteinsfjöll, Búrfell (Hafnarfjörður), Eldborg í Bláfjöllum, Eldvörp–Svartsengi, Fagradalsfjall, Heiðin há, Helgafell (Hafnarfjörður), Hengill (also listed under WVZ), Keilir, Krýsuvík (volcanic system), Krýsuvík fires, Leitin, Rauðhólar (Reykjavík), Reykjanes volcanic system, Stóra-Eldborg undir Geitahlíð, Svartsengi Power Station, Sveifluháls, Vífilsfell, Þorbjörn (mountain) Snæfellsnes volcanic belt (SVB) The Snæfellsnes volcanic belt (SVB) is an intraplate volcanic belt, connected to the North American plate. Includes: Snæfellsjökull and smaller volcanoes on Snæfellsnes, plus Helgafell. South Iceland Seismic Zone (SISZ) The South Iceland Seismic Zone (SISZ) is a fracture zone, which connects the East and West Volcanic Zones. It contains its own volcanic systems, smaller than those in the Mid-Iceland Belt. The SISZ is a set of major and active transform faults striking west-northwest in southwestern Iceland, being one of two large fracture zones, associated with such transform faults, striking about 75°N to 80°W, the other being the Tjörnes Fracture Zone. The Tjörnes and Reykjanes Fracture Zones are found striking about 75°N to 80°W. West volcanic zone (WVZ) Includes: Geitlandsjökull, Geysir, Hengill (also listed under RFZ), Hlöðufell, Hveravellir, Skjaldbreiður, Stóra-Björnsfell, Þórisjökull. ==Eruptive activity==
Eruptive activity
Grímsvötn eruptivity Grímsvötn, including the Skaftá eruption of 1783, is probably the most eruptive volcano system. The Lakagígar lava field alone is estimated to have produced about of lava. Grímsvötn has probably had more than 30 eruptions in the last 400 years, and produced around over the last 10,000 years. (Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)). See Hekla index above. == See also ==
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