Grímsvötn

Located beneath the Vatnajökull ice cap, Grímsvötn rises to an elevation of 1,725 meters and contains a caldera filled with glacial ice.

The volcano's 1783-1784 Laki fissure eruption stands as one of Iceland's largest recorded volcanic events, affecting weather patterns across Europe.

Scientists discovered bacterial communities thriving in the subglacial lakes beneath Grímsvötn, providing insights into life forms in extreme environments.

Continuous monitoring systems track seismic activity at Grímsvötn, allowing scientists to detect potential signs of upcoming volcanic eruptions.

The interaction between magma and glacial ice during eruptions creates explosive phreatomagmatic activity, leading to substantial glacial outburst floods.

Location: Sveitarfélagið Hornafjörður

Location: Þingeyjarsveit

Location: Skaftárhreppur

Elevation above the sea: 1,725 m

Made from material: basalt, picrobasalt

Part of: Vatnajökull

GPS coordinates: 64.39842,-17.31789

Latest update: May 27, 2025 08:50