Laki

The Laki fissure extends 25 kilometers across the landscape, featuring multiple craters and vast lava fields at an elevation of 812 meters.

The 1783-1784 eruption released 14 cubic kilometers of lava and gases, causing severe climate changes across Europe and leading to widespread famine in Iceland.

The Reverend Jón Steingrímsson recorded detailed observations of the eruption, documenting its effects on Icelandic society and the environment during that period.

Access to Laki requires a four-wheel drive vehicle to navigate the F206 and F207 roads, with services available at the ranger station during summer months.

The eruption created the largest recorded lava flow from a single event, covering 565 square kilometers of Icelandic terrain with basaltic rock.

Location: Skaftárhreppur

Elevation above the sea: 812 m

GPS coordinates: 64.06750,-18.23000

Latest update: May 27, 2025 20:36