Iceland sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pull apart. Iceland also sits over a deep mantle hotspot. Iceland has 32 active volcanic systems.
Why Iceland has so many volcanoes
Iceland is the only large landmass where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rises above sea level. Iceland sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the boundary where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pull apart. Iceland also sits over a deep mantle hotspot, which combined with the spreading ridge drives its intense volcanism. Iceland has 32 active volcanic systems.
The main volcanoes to know across Iceland's regions
The Reykjanes Peninsula in the southwest is a section of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge on land and hosts several volcanic systems close to the capital area. Fagradalsfjall on the Reykjanes Peninsula erupted in March 2021, its first eruption in about 6000 years and the first eruptive event on the Reykjanes Peninsula in about 800 years. The 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption was effusive, producing fluid lava rather than an explosive ash cloud, and lasted from March to September that year.
Hekla is a stratovolcano in south Iceland rising about 1491 metres, roughly 110 kilometres east of Reykjavik. Hekla was described by medieval European scholars as a gateway to hell, a nickname it still carries. Hekla has erupted between 20 and 30 times since Iceland was settled in the ninth century and last erupted in 2000.
Katla lies beneath the Myrdalsjokull icecap in south Iceland and has a caldera about 10 kilometres across. Katla has erupted at least 20 times since the year 1100, typically every 40 to 80 years, and last erupted in 1918. Eyjafjallajokull is an ice-capped volcano in south Iceland, next to Myrdalsjokull, best known for its 2010 eruption.
Grimsvotn lies largely beneath the Vatnajokull icecap and is Iceland's most frequently active volcano, having erupted about 70 times in the last 1100 years. Krafla and Askja are volcanic systems in the north and highlands, with Askja set within the remote Vatnajokull National Park interior.
Snaefellsjokull is a glacier-capped stratovolcano at the tip of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in west Iceland. Eldfell is a volcanic cone just over 200 metres high on Heimaey. Surtsey reached a maximum size of about 2.7 square kilometres and is Iceland's southernmost point.
Famous eruptions that shaped the country
The Laki fissure eruption of 1783 to 1784 produced about 14 cubic kilometres of lava over eight months. The Laki eruption released toxic gases that poisoned around 75 percent of Iceland's livestock and caused a famine estimated to have killed about 25 percent of the population.
Eyjafjallajokull is an ice-capped volcano in south Iceland, next to Myrdalsjokull, best known for its 2010 eruption. The 2010 Eyjafjallajokull eruption closed much of European airspace, cancelling over 100000 flights and affecting about 10 million passengers.
Eldfell formed in an eruption that began without warning on Heimaey in the Westman Islands on 23 January 1973, destroying around 400 homes. During the 1973 Heimaey eruption, seawater was pumped onto the advancing lava to stop it closing the harbour.
The island of Surtsey formed in an eruption that reached the sea surface on 14 November 1963 and continued until 5 June 1967.
How to see a volcano safely in Iceland
The Icelandic Meteorological Office monitors seismicity, ground deformation and gas emissions at Icelandic volcanoes and issues alerts, with information published at vedur.is. Travellers are advised to register their plans and check conditions at safetravel.is before heading to remote or active areas. Volcanic gases such as sulphur dioxide can collect in low ground near eruption sites and are a hazard to visitors. Ice-capped volcanoes such as Katla and Grimsvotn can trigger sudden glacial floods, called jokulhlaup, when an eruption melts overlying ice. Use the Road Conditions to help plan your trip.
Where to learn more and compare volcano tours
The Lava Centre in Hvolsvollur in south Iceland is an interactive exhibition about Icelandic volcanoes and earthquakes. Reykjanes Geopark and Katla Geopark are UNESCO Global Geoparks that interpret the region's volcanic landscapes for visitors. You can compare Reykjanes tours to see the current options.
