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, Reykjanes peninsula |
2022 | Fagradalsfjall, Reykjanes peninsula |
2023 | Fagradalsfjall, new eruption near Litli-Hrútur |