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12 Famous and Active Volcanoes in Iceland
Iceland is endowed with many tourist attractions and natural wonders that make the chilly nation a hot destination for visitors. One of such wonders is volcanoes. The relatively small Mid-Atlantic nation has the largest concentration of volcanoes in the world. The island is home to over 130 volcanoes (when counting active, dormant and extinct). Around 30 active volcanic systems are on the island today.
Iceland owes its existence to volcanic eruptions. Volcanic forces below the Earth’s surface are also responsible for other fascinating attractions such as the naturally occurring hot springs and geysers. Others include lava caves and cliffs from past eruptions. The beautiful landscape makes it a haven for adventure seekers and nature lovers! Volcanic eruptions are regular in the land of ice of fire. Though unpredictable, every five years or so, there is an eruption in Iceland. It may sound scary at first to visit a nation packed with active volcanoes, but Iceland is generally a safe place to visit. There is nothing to worry about. Icelanders know their volcanoes very well, monitor them, and execute eruption plans in minutes.
Volcanoes do not have to be erupting to be impressive. A visit to Iceland will allow you to witness the active and dormant volcanoes. Here are the top volcanoes in Iceland.
Eyjafjallajökull
Eyjafjallajökull is an active volcano located in South Iceland, a few kilometers from Skógar waterfall. The volcano caldera is covered by an ice cap. The stratovolcano reaches a height of 1651 meters and has a crater of about 3 to 4 kilometers in diameter. After its eruption in 2010, it became the talk of the world. While it was harmless to people, the volcanic ash plume spread into the atmosphere, leading to the cancellation of many European flights. The eruption affected about 10 million travelers.
On top of the mayhem, news anchors could not pronounce its name! When looking at the name you can put it into three parts Eyja as an island, fjalla as in mountain and jökull as in glacier (Island Mountain Glacier). It is still a bit of a tongue twister.
Eyjafjallajökull became a popular attraction, with thousands of people making their way to Iceland to marvel at the volcano. It has not erupted since 2010, but other documented eruptions took place between 1821 and 1823, 1612 and 1613, and in the year 920. Eyjafjallajökull volcanic system is connected to Katla, and its volcanic eruption often triggers Katla.
The south of Iceland is accessible by car, and there are also hiking tours available. It is unsafe to hike the volcano, but trekking the Fimmvörðuháls ridge trail will give you a great view of the volcano. Eyjafjallajökull is one and a half hour from Reykjavik.
Grímsvötn
Grímsvötn is a basaltic volcano which has the highest eruption frequency of all the volcanoes in Iceland. Because the volcano is subglacial, when it erupts the interaction between the magma and meltwater from the ice causes phreatomagmatic explosive activity. Eruptions can cause glacial outbursts known as jökulhlaup. The eruptions melt enough ice to fill the Grímsvötn caldera with water and the pressure it causes might end up being enough to lift the ice cap, allowing the huge quantities of water to escape, rapidly.
The 1725 meters high volcano is connected to the Laki volcanic system that caused great global havoc in 1784. It was erupting at the same time as Laki and kept on erupting up to 1785.
In November 2004, a week-long eruption of Grímsvötn volcano caused a short-term disruption of air travel to Iceland. Its eruption in 2011 was ten times larger than the previous eruption. It formed an ash cloud that led to the cancellation of about 900 European flights. Most of its craters are covered by the Vatnajökull glacier, with only a part of its caldera protruding above the ice.
Hekla
Once dubbed as the “Gateway to Hell,” Hekla is one of the most famous and active volcanoes in Iceland, only two hours from Reykjavik. It is responsible for the largest volume of lava globally, in the last millennium! The stratovolcano is 1491 meters high and is part of a 40 km long volcano ridge. A 5km fissure named Heklugjá is the most active part of the ridge. It has erupted for over 20 times since 874. Its most recent eruption was in February 2000, but it was relatively minor.
In 1104, Hekla erupted explosively covering much of Iceland with tephra. This eruption was the most powerful in its history, though it had other more destructive eruptions in 1300, 1693, and 1845. Despite its dangerous reputation, it is one of the most popular hiking spots in Iceland. It takes about four hours to summit the peak. It is even possible to camp in the area.
Katla
Katla is a subglacial, basaltic-to-rhyolitic volcano. It has a reputation of being the most dangerous volcano in Iceland, as well as the most volatile and deadliest. It is one of the biggest and most explosive volcanoes on the island. Katla can be regarded as one of the most powerful volcanoes in the world.
Katla is connected to the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic system and is usually triggered after its eruption. But Laki and Eldgjá fissure system is also a part of the same volcanic system as Katla.
Katla is located under Mýrdalsjökull glacier in the southeast of Iceland. It has 20 documented eruptions between 930 and 1918. Katla boasts a ten-kilometer wide caldera which is covered by ice. When it erupts, it releases vast ash clouds and catastrophic glacial outbursts.
Its big eruption was in 1918, which released a lot of volcanic tephra and icebergs in the Mýrdalssandur black sand area. In 2011, 1999, and 1955, geologists believe there were small eruptions in Katla that did not break the ice cover. Katla is one of the largest volcanic sources of carbon dioxide, accounting for 4% of total global volcanic carbon dioxide emissions. There is close monitoring of the volcano due to increased earthquake activity after the Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010.
Bárðarbunga
Located in the northwestern part of the Vatnajökull glacier, Bárðarbunga is the second highest peak in Iceland with a height of 2009 m. It is part of the volcanic system that stretches for about 200 km long and 25 km wide. The subglacial stratovolcano has a caldera of 10 km wide.
Little was known about Bárðarbunga due to its remote location and infrequent eruptions; once in every 50 years. But, recent studies show that the tephra layer thought to be from other volcanoes was ejected from the volcano. The stratovolcano became famous after its fissure eruption in 2014, which led to the formation of the biggest lava field in Iceland. Its location is in Vatnajökull national park and not easily accessible.
Krafla
Krafla is a volcanic caldera located North of Iceland in the Mývatn region. It is particularly active, with 29 eruptions since settlement. Nine of its volcanic eruptions occurred between 1975 and 1984. Its highest peak reaches up to 818 meters, and the caldera is 10 km wide in diameter. Krafla is also famed for a lake in its crater, referred to as ‘Víti.’ The cold Crater Lake has an emerald blue color that makes it a photographer’s favorite spot.
The volcanic caldera has been quiet since its eruption between 1975 and 1984 and is now in the list of moderately active volcanoes. Krafla is a popular attraction due to its closeness to the gorgeous Mývatn. Many geothermal pools surround Krafla that makes it a perfect place for a hike in Iceland.
Askja
Askja is an active volcano situated in the Icelandic highlands. The place is remote and was once used to train astronauts for lunar missions. It is only accessible for a few months of the year due to weather conditions. Askja was unknown until its tremendous eruption in 1875. It caused a heavy ash fall that poisoned the land and led to the death of livestock across the country. The ash from the volcanic eruption was also blown to Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Poland by the wind. This eruption led many people to emigrate from Iceland.
Askja volcano’s last eruption was in 1961, although scientists believe that another eruption is imminent due to rising geothermal activity. It is also famed for Lake Öskjuvatn which fills a caldera that was formed during the 1875 eruption. Öskjuvatn is the second deepest lake in Iceland. Nowadays, the water is frozen for most of the year. Close to it is a smaller geothermal lake in another caldera, which has warm water where you can take a bath. Askja is a popular tourist destination accessed by bus or 4×4 tours. The roads are usually open from late June to early October.
Laki
Laki is a volcanic fissure situated on the Southwest side of Vatnajökull National Park. The volcanic fissure is known as Lakagígar, while the mountain is called Laki. It lies between Mýrdalsjökull and Vatnajökull glaciers. The Laki eruption in 1783 for eight months was the most devastating eruption in history. The outpouring of lava and emission of poisonous gases (hydrofluoric acid and sulfur dioxide) contaminated the soil and the air.
The contamination led to the destruction of crops and the death of over 50% of Icelandic livestock. About a quarter of the island population died due famine that followed, and the lava flow destroyed 20 villages. The emission of large volumes of sulphuric dioxide into the northern hemisphere led to a drop in global temperatures that also crop failures all over Europe.
Lakagígar crater attracts many visitors from around the world who come to witness the unique natural phenomenon, but getting to the crater is difficult. The mountain tracks on the western part of the national park are only reachable by vehicles with four-wheel-drive and some only by large jeeps. Helicopter tours are also available.
Snæfellsjökull
Snæfellsjökull is a glacier-capped stratovolcano located in the west of Iceland. It is part of Snæfellsjökull National Park and thus easily accessible. It is one of the volcanoes in Iceland that is popular with hikers and nature enthusiasts. Its fame is also due to Jules Verne’s novel, “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” in which he finds the entrance to the center of the earth on Snaæfellsjökull. Halldór Laxness also used it as a major setting in his book “Under the Glacier.”
On a clear day, the volcano can be spotted from Reykjavik. Several tour companies run frequent guided tours during summer, but to reach the peak requires technical ice climbing.
Westman Islands: Eldfell
Eldfell, ”The Fire Mountain” is a 200 meters volcanic cone that was formed in a surprise eruption on the eastern side of Heimey, Westman Islands. Heimey is the largest of the 15 islands in the Westman island archipelago. The volcanic eruption took place on 23rd January 1963 without warning and went on for five months.
It led to a major crisis on the island that almost caused a permanent evacuation. Four hundred homes were destroyed by the falling ash, the fire caused by the lava bombs, and the outpouring lava. The lava almost closed off the harbor, but luckily it was preserved by pumping seawater that cooled down the advancing lava flows. Most of the population in Heimaey came back in 1975 although the fishing companies in Westman Island were back to their productions in 1974.
Heimey is a rather small island, which you can explore by walking distance. Hiking and boat tours around the island are available. Eldfell is now listed among the moderately active volcanoes, though scientists say it is unlikely to erupt again.
Westman Islands : Surtsey
Surtsey is a volcanic island in the Westman Islands archipelago off the southern coast of Iceland. It is the southernmost point of Iceland. The volcanic island is a product of a volcanic eruption that started below the sea level (130 meters) and surfaced on 14th November 1963. The volcanic eruption went on until June 1967.
Since then, erosion has reduced the size of the island though it is unlikely to disappear entirely in the future. Surtsey was declared a nature reserve in 1965. Today, only a few scientists are allowed to the island. Other people can only see it from a plane.
Þríhnúkagígur
Þríhnúkagígur is a dormant volcano situated near Reykjavik in Iceland. It has not erupted in the past 4000 years, making tours here safe. It is the only volcano in the world with a magma chamber that can be accessed and offers a fantastic volcanic adventure. It was discovered in 1974 by Árni B Stefánsson and opened to the public in 2012. Þríhnúkagígur has three craters and a magma chamber of about 150,000 cubic meters. The magma chamber is referred to as the heart of the volcano.
You access the magma chamber by taking an elevator that lowers you down 120 meters to the base of the vast cavern. The bottom covers roughly the same area as a football field! The cave exposes stacked lava flows and a buried cinder cone. The beauty of the chamber comprises the various coloration and the enormous size. The walls of the chamber display red, green, and yellow colors. You can access Þríhnúkagígur volcano from Reykjavik. Official tours are available.
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