Laki

Laki is a crater and fissure system in Vatnajökull National Park that runs through the southern Icelandic highlands at an elevation of 2,660 feet (800 meters). The crater row forms a long line across dark lava fields, with each cone showing different shapes and sizes.

The eruption began in June 1783 and continued for eight months, with molten rock flowing from a series of openings. The gases released spread across Europe, causing crop failures and a cold summer.

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

Reaching the site requires driving on rough highland tracks that open only in summer and demand a four-wheel drive vehicle. A ranger hut nearby provides basic information and orientation during the warmer months.

The fissure eruption created more than one hundred separate cones that stand today along a straight axis. Some craters have grown moss, while others remain completely bare and black.

Location: Skaftárhreppur

Elevation above the sea: 812 m

Address: Laki, 881, Iceland

GPS coordinates: 64.07019,-18.23631

Latest update: December 16, 2025 15:15