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Volcanic eruptions in Iceland

The following table shows numerous volcanic eruptions in Iceland in recorded history. this list is certainly incomplete. In particular, from the time before the 20th century many eruptions are not recorded. If you know of other eruptions in Iceland, please let us know by e-mail at info@eldey.de.


ca. 934 Eldgjá - the longest volcanic fissure in the world was created
1104 Hekla - first eruption of Hekla since settlement in Iceland. The farm Stöng was destroyed.
1158 Hekla - no historical reports on destruction or other consequences
1179 Reykjaneshryggur - submarin volcano 34 km southwest of Reykjanes
1188 Krísuvík - eruption of Ogmundargigar west of Kleifarvatn on Reykjanes peninsula
1206 Hekla
1211 Reykjanes - historical reports on an eruption at the west coast of Reykjanes
1222 Hekla
1223 Reykjaneshryggur - submarin volcano 34 km southwest of Reykjanes
1231 + 1238 Reykjaneshryggur - submarin volcano
1245 Katla
1262 Katla
1268 Stampar (Reykjanes)
1300 Askja, or rather south of Dyngjufjöll
1300 Hekla - the lava flow Suðurhraun destroyed a farm
1311 Katla
1332 Grimsvötn
1372 Kolbeinsey
1340 Brennisteinsfjöll, Reykjanes
1341 Hekla
1341 Brennisteinsfjöll - east of Kleifarvatn on the Reykjanes peninsula
1341 Grimsvötn
1362 Hvannadalshnúkur, Öræfajökull
1372 Kolbeinsey
1389 Hekla
1416 Katla
1422 Reykjaneshryggur - submarin volcano 34 km southwest of Reykjanes
1440 Hekla
1477 Torfajökull / Bárðarbunga
1510 Hekla
1554 Hekla
1580 Katla - Gletscherlauf
1583 Reykjaneshryggur - submarin volcano 34 km southwest of Reykjanes
1597 Hekla
1598 Grimsvötn
1603 Grímsvötn
1612 Katla - Gletscherlauf
1612 Eyjafjallajökull
1619 Grimsvötn
1625 Katla - Gletscherlauf
1629 Grimsvötn
1636 Hekla
1638 Grimsvötn
1655 Kverkfjöll
1659 Grimsvötn
1660 Katla - Gletscherlauf
1681 Grimsvötn
1693 Hekla
1706 Grimsvötn
1716 Grímsvötn
1721 Katla - Gletscherlauf
1724 Viti / Krafla - the Viti crater was formed by a powerful explosion
1724 Krafla, beginning of the so called “Myvatn fires”
1725 Hekla
1727 Krafla - "Myvatn fires"
1728 Krafla - "Myvatn fires"
1729 Krafla - "Myvatn fires"
1727-1728 Hvannadalshnúkur, Öræfajökull
1729 Kverkfjöll
1746 Krafla
1753 Grimsvötn
1755 Katla - Gletscherlauf
1755 Kolbeinsey
1766 Hekla
1768 Grimsvötn
1774 Grimsvötn
1783 Reykjaneshryggur - submarin volcano 34 km southwest of Reykjanes
1783/84 Laki (Lakagigar) - largest lava flow in recorded history
1797 Eruption northwest of Bárðarbunga. The lava flow Holuhraun was formed
1816 Grimsvötn
1821-1823 Eyjafjallajökull
1823 Katla - Gletscherlauf
1830-1831 Reykjaneshryggur - submarin volcano 34 km southwest of Reykjanes
1838 Grimsvötn
1845 Hekla
1854 Grimsvötn
1860 Katla
1867 Grímsvötn
1867-1868 Submarin eruption north of Tjörnes
1873 Grimsvötn
1875 Askja - The Viti crater and lake Oskjuvatn were formed
1878 Hekla
1879 Reykjaneshryggur - submarin volcano 34 km southwest of Reykjanes
1883 Grimsvötn
1887 Grímsvötn
1892 Grímsvötn - glacier burst
1896 Hellisey - Submarin eruption near Hellisey island, Westman-Islands
1897 Grimsvötn
1902-1904 Grimsvötn
1910 Bárðarbunga
1913 Hekla
1918 Katla
1922 Grimsvötn
1922-1924 Askja
1926 Reykjaneshryggur - submarin volcano 34 km southwest of Reykjanes
1926 Askja
1927 Esjufjöll - southeast of Grömsvötn (Vatnajökull)
1929 Bárðarbunga
1933 Grimsvötn
1934 Grímsvötn - Gletscherlauf
1938 Askja
1938 Grimsvötn
1945 Grímsvötn
1947 Hekla - strong eruption with large ash cloud
1954 Grímsvötn
1955 Katla - possibly a small eruption which did not burst the icecap of Myrdalsjökull
1959 Kverkfjöll
1961 Askja
1963-67 Surtsey - creation of a new island soth of Heimaey, Westman Islands
1966 Reykjaneshryggur - submarin volcano 34 km southwest of Reykjanes
1968 Kverkfjöll - very small and shot eruption
1970 Hekla
1972 Grímsvötn
1973 Eldfell, Heimaey - Numerous houses were destroyed by lava and ash
1975 Krafla - beginning of the so called Krafla fires
1977 Krafla
1980 Krafla
1980-1981 Hekla
1981 Krafla
1983 Grímsvötn - glacier burst
1984 Krafla
1991 Hekla
1996 Grímsvötn / Bárðarbunga - glacier burst
1998 Grimsvötn
2000 Hekla
2004 Grimsvötn
2010 Eyjafjallajökull / Fimmvörduháls - flight ban in most parts of Europe because of a large ash cloud
2011 Grimsvötn - strongest eruption since more than 100 years. Flight ban in UK and northern Europe due to ash.
2014 Eruption in the lava flow Holuhraun northwest of Bárðarbunga (Vatnajökull
2021 Fagradalsfjall in Geldingadalur, Reykjanes peninsula
2022 Meradalir, Reykjanes peninsula
2023 Litli-Hrútur, Reykjanes peninsula
2024 Sundhnukar, Reykjanes peninsula
Vocanic eruptions in Icelandic history


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