List of volcanic eruptions in Iceland

Alphabetic index of eruptions, fissures and notable sites

[|Askja]

Bárðarbunga

Brennisteinsfjöll

Dyngjufjöll

Eldey

Eldfell

Eldgjá

Esja / Esjan

Esjufjöll

Eyjafjallajökull

Fagradalsfjall

Festarfjall

Fremrinámur

Geirfuglasker

Gjálp

Grensdalur

Grímsey

Grímsnes

Kerið

Grímsvötn

Hekla

Helgafell (on Snæfellsnes Peninsula)

Helgafell (on Heimaey island)

Hengill

Herðubreið

Hofsjökull

Holuhraun

Hrómundartindur

Hvalbakur

Hvannadalshnúkur

Hveravellir

Hverfjall

Iceland hotspot

Ingólfsfjall

Jólnir

Katla

Keilir

Kerlingarfjöll

Kolbeinsey

Kolbeinsey Ridge

Kollóttadyngja

Krafla

Krakatindur

Krýsuvík

Kverkfjöll

Laki / Lakagígar

Landmannalaugar

Langjökull

Ljósufjöll

Loki-Fögrufjöll

Lýsuhóll

Mývatn (fires)

Nýey

Öræfajökull

Prestahnúkur

Reykjanes

Reykjaneshryggur

Snæfell

Snæfellsjökull

Stóra-Eldborg undir Geitahlíð

Sundhnúkur

Surtsey

Theistareykjarbunga

Þingvellir / Thingvellir

Þjórsá Lava / Thjórsá Lava

Thordarhyrna

Thórólfsfell

Þrándarjökull / Thrándarjökull

Thríhnúkagígur

Tindfjallajökull

Tjörnes Fracture Zone

Tjörnes Peninsula (non-volcanic)

Torfajökull

Trölladyngja

Tungnafellsjökull

Vatnafjöll

Vatnajökull

Vatnaöldur

Veiðivötn

Vestmannaeyjar

Viðey

Westfjords

Chronological list of eruptions

Prehistoric eruptions

• 16,000,000 years ago - the oldest known rock in Iceland was formed in a lava eruption. The age of the basaltic strata from west to east is 16–10 million years.
• Circa 3,200,000 years ago - Esjan - The western part is about 3.2 million years and the eastern part is about 1.8 million years. The movements of the plate boundaries are continually moving the strata to the west and away from the active volcanic zone. Two volcanoes were active in the Reykjavík region, Viðey volcano and Stardals volcano. They partially formed Esja ; the smaller mountains near Reykjavík; plus the islands and small peninsulas like Viðey and Kjalarnes. '
• 2,600,000-9,000 years ago - Viðey About two million years ago during the Pleistocene, Viðey was an active volcano with a massive caldera. The remains of this caldera are much larger than the modern island itself, with the island near the caldera's center. The rest of the caldera underlies a large part of what is now Kollafjörður. The underwater eruption that formed Viðey island stopped circa 9,000 years ago. '
• 2,500,000-11,000 years ago. Grensdalur, currently dormant, inactive since the Pleistocene era. Part of the South Iceland Seismic Zone (SISZ),
• 2,500,000-11,000 years ago. Keilir was formed during a subglacial fissure eruption which thawed the ice and formed a subglacial lake, and caused explosive activity. Ice thickness and more exact time of eruption are not known, just that it took place during the Pleistocene. '
• 2,500,000-11,000 years ago - Hofsjökull, subglacial volcano is a shield type with caldera. The third largest ice cap after Vatnajökull and Langjökull and the largest active volcano in the country, situated in the west of the Highlands
• Circa 1,800,000 years ago - Esjan - The western part is about 3.2 million years and the eastern part is about 1.8 million years. The movements of the plate boundaries are continually moving the strata to the west and away from the active volcanic zone. Two volcanoes were active in the Reykjavík region, Viðey volcano and Stardals volcano. They partially formed Esja ; the smaller mountains near Reykjavík; plus the islands and small peninsulas like Viðey and Kjalarnes. '
• Circa 700,000 years ago- Snæfellsjökull stratovolcano on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Has pyroclastic cones on its flanks, plus upper-flank craters and lower-flank basaltic lava flows. Holocene eruptions have produced felsic material. '
• 400,000-500,000 years ago - Ingólfsfjall, The main volcanic bulk is about 400-500 000 years old. '
• 100,000 years ago - Keilir, volcanic cone on the Reykjanes peninsula, in the Krýsuvík (volcanic system). '
• 54,000 years ago - Tindfjallajökull,, a -wide caldera was formed during Thórsmörk eruption. '
• 42,000-12,400 years ago - Sveifluháls, volcanic melting of glacier ice induced the formation of one or more subglacial meltwater lakes. Dropping overburden pressures led to the eruption of vitric phreatomagmatic tuff.
• 11,000 years ago - Askja-S. Tephra found in Norway, Sweden, Northern Ireland, and Romania. '
• Circa 10,600 years ago - Katla. It is thought that Katla is the source of more than of tephra 'Vedde Ash' found at a number of sites including Vedde in Norway, Denmark, Scotland and North Atlantic cores.
• Circa 9,500 BC Theistareykjarbunga. The first of three dated eruptions, produced approximately 18 billion cubic metres of basaltic lava. '
• circa 9,000 years ago - Skjaldbreiður lava shield formed in one huge and protracted eruption. The lava flowed south and formed the basin of Þingvallavatn, Iceland's largest lake.
• 8230 BC - Grímsvötn The eruption was VEI 6, producing some of tephra, resulting in the Saksunarvatn tephra. '
• Circa 6,800 BC Theistareykjarbunga. The second of three dated eruptions. '
• 6700 BC. - the "Great Þjórsá Lava flow", the largest known effusive eruption in Iceland in the last 10,000 years, originated from the Veiðivötn Note: Bárðarbunga 6600 BC is also described as "about 8,600 years ago, with a total volume of 21 to 30 cubic kilometres and covering approximately 950 square kilometres."
• Circa 5,800 BC - Hveravellir? The Kjalhraun lava field is about 7,800 years old.
• 5000 BC - Hekla. The first acidic eruption in Hekla. The ash layer H5 is found in soil in the central highlands and in many parts of the North. '
• Circa 6,500 BP - Kerið, is a volcanic crater lake located in the Grímsnes area. It is believed that Kerið was a cone volcano which erupted and emptied its magma reserve. Once the magma was depleted, the weight of the cone collapsed into the empty magma chamber. The pool of water at the bottom of the crater is at the same level as the water table and is not caused by rainfall.
• 6000 BP - The Stórhöfði peninsula was formed to the south of Helgafell on the island of Heimaey.
• 5000 BP - Bláfjöll Volcanic System, lava flow reached Reykjavík west. '
• 3350 BCE - Prestahnúkur, volcano in the west of the Highlands of Iceland to the west of Langjökull glacier. '
• 5200 BP - Leitin, a Holocene, effusive eruption, shield volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula, south of Reykjavík. Part of the Brennisteinsfjöll volcanic system and therefore of the Reykjanes Volcanic Belt.Thor Thordarson, Armann Hoskuldsson: Iceland. Classic geology of Europe 3. Harpenden 2002, p.56 '
• 3,000 BC - Helgafell formed from a secondary eruption on the Stórhöfði peninsula. Vestmannaeyjar. Heimaey.
• 2500 BC - Hekla. '
• 4,000 BP - Thríhnúkagígur, an eruption in the volcanic system of Brennisteinsfjöll covered an area of to a depth of, It is the only volcano in the world where visitors can take an elevator into the magma chamber. The magma that would normally fill the chamber and become sealed is believed to have drained away, revealing the rift beneath the surface. Part of the Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ).
• 1200 BC - Veiðivatnasvæði, Búrfellshraun flowed from a series of craters near Veiðivötn, on the one hand to Þórisós and on the other hand down with Tungná and Þjórsá all the way down to Landsveit
• 1130 BC - Hengill is a volcanic table mountain situated in the southwest. The range covers an area of about 4 by 7 km². It is still active, evidenced by its numerous hot springs and fumaroles, but the last eruption occurred approximately 2,000 years ago, before the settlement of Iceland. '
• 1000 BC - Katla. Two ash layers in the South and the Reykjanes peninsula. '
• Circa 1,000-900 BC - Hekla (H3) is considered the most severe eruption of Hekla during the Holocene. which threw about of volcanic rock into the atmosphere, placing its Volcanic Explosivity Index at 5. This would have cooled temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere for several years afterwards. Traces have been identified in Scottish peat bogs, and dendrochronology shows a decade of negligible tree ring growth in Ireland. An eighteen-year span of global cooling that is recorded in Irish bog oaks has been attributed to H-3. The eruption is detectable in Greenland ice cores, the bristlecone pine sequence, and the Irish oak sequence of extremely narrow growth rings. A research team led by Baker dated it to 1021 BC ±130. Some Egyptologists have dated the eruption to 1159 BC, and blamed it for famines under Ramesses III during the wider Bronze Age collapse. '
• Circa 900 BC Theistareykjarbunga. The third of three dated eruptions. '
• 800 BC - Fremrinámur. It is at the junction of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the Greenland–Iceland–Faeroe Ridge. It is one of five volcanic systems found in the axial rift zone in north east Iceland. '
• circa 500 BC - Hverfjall is a tephra cone or Phreatomagmatic eruption in northern Iceland. The eruption was in the southern part of the Krafla fissure swarm. ''
• 400 BC Stóra-Eldborg undir Geitahlíð erupted, and the lava flowed 2.5 km to the sea.
• 300 BC Mývatn, large fissure eruption pouring out basaltic lava. The lava flowed down the valley Laxárdalur to the lowland plain of Aðaldalur where it entered the Arctic Ocean about away from Mývatn. The crater row that was formed on top of the eruptive fissure is called Þrengslaborgir. ''''

Common era (CE), Anno Domini (AD)

• 150 AD ± 75 years - Hengill, Fissure vent eruption. '
• Circa 50-350 CE Snæfellsjökull, The latest eruption took place circa 50-350 CE and released approximately of volcanic material. The eruption was explosive and originated from the summit crater, and may have produced lava flows. '
• Note. The Volcanic winter of 536 was the most severe and protracted episode of climatic cooling in the Northern Hemisphere in the last 2,000 years. The source of the eruption remains to be found. Icelandic volcanos were proposed. However, the cryptotephras dated exactly to AD 536 are geochemically distinct from Icelandic tephra, and the shards in the Swiss glacier have large age uncertainty.
• Katla 751-763 ± 2 Hrafnkatla series of eruptions including large eruptions in 757 and 763 ± 2 with total tephra volume greater than
• Grímsvötn 753 ± 2 From ice core data
• Grímsvötn 781 ± 2 From ice core data

9th century

• circa 800 - Vatnafjöll. A long, wide basaltic fissure vent system. It is part of the same system as Hekla. More than two dozen eruptions have occurred at Vatnafjöll during the Holocene Epoch. '
• 822 - Katla. An effusive eruption with large jökulhlaup dated within 6 months between late 822 to early 823 CE by tree ring data.
• circa 870 - Torfajökull. A stratovolcano, caldera and complex of subglacial volcanoes. The largest area of silicic extrusive rocks in Iceland. '
• 877 - Ash and lava eruptions in Vatnaöldur in so called "Settlement eruption" dated to 877 ± 2 CE. The craters resulted from long volcanic fissures within the area of a lake. The mainly explosive eruptions emitted of tholeiite basalt. The first eruption since human settlement of Iceland was the Vatnaöldur eruption, which had a volcanic explosivity index (VEI) of 4. ''''

10th century

• 900 - Afstapahraun. '
• 900 - Vatnajökull '
• 900 - Krafla '
• 900 - Hallmundarhraun lava flows.
• 900 - Rauðhálsahraun in Hnappadalur
• 905 - Vatnajökull. '
• 920 - Reykjanes, location uncertain, but tuff layer from the eruption is known. '
• 920 - Katla. '
• 939 - Katla and Eldgjá: VEI 6. Dated now to 939 ± 2 CE. A large lava flow from Eldgjá flowed over Álftaver, Meðalland and Landbrot. The eruption was the largest flood basalt in historic time Evidence from tree rings in the Northern Hemisphere indicates that 940 was one of the coolest summers in 1500 years. Summer average temperatures in Central Europe, Scandinavia, Canada, Alaska, and Central Asia were 2 °C lower than normal. Probably the earthquake from which Molda-Gnúpur and his people fled according to "Settlement". Landnáma also tells about the formation of Sólheimasandur in the great course of the Jökulsá river. '
• 940 - Vatnajökull / Veiðivötn '
• 960 - Ljósufjöll is a fissure vent system and central volcano on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. This CE eruption is the only one on the peninsula in recorded history.
• 999 or 1000 - Svínahraun
• 1000 - Katla. A tuff layer survives.
• Circa 1000 - Hveravellir. A volcanic system in the Arnarvatnsheiði. The craters of this system produced the lava field Hallmundarhraun which extends some westward into the valley of the Hvítá.

11th century

• - Vatnajökull. ''''

12th century

• 1104 - Hekla. Its first and greatest eruption in historical time. Heavy ash fall to the north and northeast. Þjórsárdalur was destroyed, including the farm named Stöng . '
• 1151-1188 Krýsuvík fires. Volcanic activity in a fissure swarm known as Krýsuvík on the Reykjanes peninsula. Eruption in Ögmundarhraun and Kapelluhraun. '
• 1158 - Hekla, second eruption. A VEI 4 eruption began on 19 January 1158 producing over 0.15 km³ of lava and 0.2 km³ of tephra. It is likely to be the source of the Efrahvolshraun lava on Hekla's west. '
• - ? in Vatnajökull. '
• 1160-1180 - Two eruptions in the sea off Reykjanes. '
• 1179 - Katla. Sources are unclear, but ash layers found in Greenland Glaciers. '
• 1188 - ? Rjúpnadyngju lava flow and Mávahlíða lava flow. Rjúpnadyngjuhraun og Mávahlíðahraun runnu

13th century

• 1206 - Hekla, eruption number 3. '
• 1206 - Reykjanes peninsula. 1206? Information and No volcanic eruption had occurred for 815 years on the Reykjanes Peninsula until 19 March 2021 when a fissure vent appeared in Geldingadalir to the south of Fagradalsfjall mountain.
• 1210-1211 - from Reykjanes. Eldey formed. '
• 1222 - Hekla, eruption number 4. '
• 1223 - off Reykjanes, location uncertain. '
• 1225 - off Reykjanes, location uncertain. '
• 1226-1227 - some eruptions in Reykjanes. They are owned by Yngra Stampahraun,, Eldvarpahraun, Illahraun and Arnarseturshraun. Sandy winter due to a large ash eruption at Reykjanestá and the so-called Medieval Valley fell. Famine as a result. '
• 1231 - off Reykjanes, location uncertain. '
• 1238 - off Reykjanes, location uncertain. '
• 1240 - off Reykjanes, location uncertain. '
• 1245 - Katla. Fire and lava from Sólheimajökull. '
• 1262 - Katla. Fire with heavy ash fall in Sólheimajökull. The last people at Sólheimasandur.
• 1300-1301 - Hekla, eruption number 5. Heavy ash fall in Skagafjörður and famine as a result.. ''''

14th century

• 1311 - Katla. Darkness in the Eastfjords and ash fall in many parts of the country. Major lava flow, probably on Mýrdalssandur, but sources are unclear and contradictory. Crop and hay failure the following year with associated casualties. '
• 1332 - in Vatnajökull, probably in Grímsvötn. '
• 1340 - ? Brennisteinsfjöll. '
• 1341 - Brennisteinsfjöll. The last eruption in the Brennisteinsfjöll volcanic system was a VEI-2 eruption in 1341. '.
• 1341 - Hekla, eruption number 6. The ash spread west through Borgarfjörður and Akranes. Great death, especially in Rangárvellir and many settlements were destroyed. '
• 1341 - ? Grímsvötn. '
• 1341 - Brennisteinsfjöll, a VEI-2 eruption. One of the bigger lava flows, runs south to the coast at Herdísarvík bay forming lava falls on their way.
• 1354 - ? Grímsvötn. '
• 1357 - Katla. Extensive eruption and damage. '
• 1362 - Knappafellsjökull. The largest ash eruption in Icelandic history. Litla-Hérað was completely destroyed and few seem to have escaped. The group was called Öræfi when it started to rebuild and the glacier Öræfajökull. Most of the ash was carried east to the sea, but destroyed much of Hornafjörður and Lónshverfi along the way. Jökulhlaup to Skeiðarársandur and out to sea.
• 1372 - north-west of Grímseyjar
• 1389-1390 - in and around Hekla, eruption number 7. Norðurhraun lava flows, Skarð, Tjaldastaðir and maybe more farms are subsumed. ''''

15th century

• 1416 - Katla. '
• 1422 - off Reykjanes an island is formed and lasts for several years. '
• 1440 - Hekla or surroundings. '
• 1477 - Torfajökull. A stratovolcano, caldera and complex of subglacial volcanoes. The largest area of silicic extrusive rocks in Iceland. '
• 1477 - Landmannalaugar in the Highlands of Iceland. It is at the edge of Laugahraun lava field, which was formed around 1477. Note: This remote event appears to also be referred to as Bárðarbunga, the largest known Icelandic eruption, with a VEI of 6. '
• 1477 - at Heljargjárrein. Eruption on a long fissure in Veiðivötn west of Vatnajökull.
• – 1500 - Katla. '
• about 1500 - in Vatnajökull. ''''

16th century

• 1510 - Hekla eruption number 8. A large eruption with heavy ash fall to the south. The largest Hekla lava field from historical times. Extensive land degradation in Rangárvallasýsla as a result. '
• 1554 - Vondubjallar southwest of Hekla. The eruption lasted for 6 weeks in the spring. Red bells formed and from them flowed Pálssteinshraun. '
• 1580 - Katla. '
• - at Eldey
• 1597 - Hekla, eruption number 9. From 3 January into the summer. Volcanic eruptions were widespread but caused little living space, although mainly in Mýrdalur. '
• 1598 - Grímsvötn. ''''

17th century

• 1603 - Grímsvötn. '
• 1612 - Katla. The eruption began on 16 October, but sources do not agree on location, Katla is considered more likely. '
• 1619 - Grímsvötn. '
• 1625 - Katla, 2–14 September. Large eruption with heavy ash fall to the east. Twenty-five farms were deserted. Þorsteinn Magnússon, abbot of Þykkvabær, wrote a report on the eruption, the first of its kind in Iceland. '
• 1629 - Grímsvötn. '
• 1636-37 - Hekla, eruption number 10 began on 8 May and lasted for over a year. Ash fall to the northeast and little damage. '
• 1637-38 - by the Westman Islands
• 1638 - Grímsvötn. '
• 1655 -? probably an eruption in Vatnajökull, probably in Kverkfjöll. Big lava flow in Jökulsá á Fjöllum.
• 1659 - Grímsvötn. '
• 1660-61 - Katla. The eruption began on 3 November and lasted until the end of the year. A small ash fall but a large flow on Mýrdalssandur and cut Höfðabrekka off. '
• 1681 - in Vatnajökull. '
• 1684-85 - Grímsvötn. A major lava flow in Jökulsá á Fjöllum, one person died and a number of livestock.. '
• 1693 - Hekla, eruption number 11 began on 13 February and lasted until the autumn. Heavy ash fall to the northwest at the beginning of the eruption which caused great and permanent damage in the surrounding areas. '
• 1693 - Katla.
• 1697 - in Vatnajökull. ''''

18th century

• 1701-1864 Bárðarbunga. Studies of tephra layers have shown that a number of eruptions occurred beneath the glacier, probably in the north-east of the crater or in Bárðarbunga. There have also been smaller eruptions in an ice-free area of Dyngjuháls to the north-east. Eruptions appear to follow a cycle: there were several eruptions in the glacier between 1701 and 1740 and since 1780. '
• 1702 - in Vatnajökull. '
• 1706 - in Vatnajökull. '
• 1711-12 - Kverkfjöll
• 1716 - in Vatnajökull. '
• 1717 - in Vatnajökull. '
• 1721 - Katla. Heavy ash fall, about and a big lava flow. '
• 1724-29 - Mývatnseldar . Lava flowed into Lake Mývatn and the volcanic "Viti crater" formed by Krafla volcano. '
• 1725 - in Vatnajökull
• 1725 - southeast of Hekla. '
• 1726 - in Vatnajökull
• 1727 - Öræfajökull, at the glacier roots above Sandfellsskerji. 3 died. '
• 1729 - Kverkfjöll
• 1746 - Mývatnseldar,,. 1 eruption. '
• 1753 - southwest of Grímsvatn
• 1755-56 - Katla. The eruption began on 17 October and lasted until mid-February. A large amount of ash, about, reached the northeast and caused great damage in Skaftártunga, Álftaveri and Síða. A big lava flow on Mýrdalssandur, mostly west of Hafursey. Lightning killed two people. About 50 farms were deserted, most of them only temporarily. '
• 1766 - west of Vatnajökull, probably in Bárðarbunga. '
• 1766-68 - Hekla, eruption number 12. The largest lava eruption of Hekla in historical time. Ash fall in Húnavatns- and Skagafjarðarsýsla counties. 10 lands were deserted. '
• 1774 - Grímsvötn. '
• 1783 - Nýey. Reykjaneshrygg, southwest of Eldey. The island of Nýey rose from the sea with intense, poisonous, sulphurous smoke, but disappeared in less than a year. '
• 1783-84 Laki / Lakagigar. Lava flowed along Skaftá river valley and Hverfisfljót, down into the lowlands and covered about . The eruption has been estimated to have killed over six million people globally. Ash fall and poisoning caused hay failure leading to a famine that killed about 25% of the island's population and resulted in a drop in global temperatures, as sulfur dioxide was spewed into the Northern Hemisphere. This caused crop failures in Europe and may have caused droughts in India. '
• 1797 - Grímsvötn. ''''

19th century

• 1807 - Grímsvötn. '
• 1816 - Grímsvötn. '
• 1821 - Katla. '
• 1821-23 - Eyjafjallajökull. The eruption began weakly on 19 December, no lava flowed but some ash fell. Subsequently, lava flowed north to Markarfljót. '
• 1823 - Vatnajökull. '
• 1830 - Eldeyjarboði. Submarine eruption. '
• 1830 - Geirfuglasker. Submarine eruption. ' May be the same as adjacent Eldeyjarboði 1830 above.
• 1838 - Grímsvötn. '
• 1845-46 - Hekla, eruption number 13 began on 2 September and lasted for about seven months. Heavy ash fall to the southeast and a lava flow in Ytri-Rangá. Lava flowed west and northwest, about, so the farm of Næfurholt had to be relocated. '
• 1854 - Grímsvötn. '
• 1860 - Katla. A small eruption. '
• ? 1861 - Grímsvötn. '
• 1862-64 - at Heljargjárrein. The eruption began on 30 June in a long fissure north of Tungnaárjökull. Trollagígar formed there and Tröllahraun flowed from them.
• 1867 - Grímsvötn. '
• 1867-68 - Mánáreyjar. Submarine eruption.
• 1867-68 - Tjörnes Fracture Zone.
• 1872 - in Vatnajökull. '
• 1873 - Grímsvötn. '
• 1874 - Askja. Likely eruption in February. Gas was seen. '
• 1875 January - Askja. Lava eruption began on 3 January. Sigketill began to form later that month. '
• 1875 February - Askja. A lava eruption began in Sveinagjá in Mývatnsöræf on 18 February on a long fissure. It lasted until mid-August and flowed from Nýjahraun. It is believed to be a magma flow from Askja. '
• 1875 March - Askja One of the largest ash eruptions in Icelandic history began on 28 March and lasted for about eight hours. Eruption from Víti and other craters. Heavy damage from ash fall in the middle of East Iceland and many farms were deserted. Many East Fjord people moved to the West as a result. Öskjuvatn was formed and it grew steadily. Eruptions occurred for several months. '
• 1876 - Askja. The last flame was seen at the end of the year. '
• 1876 - in Vatnajökull. '
• 1878 - Krakatindur, located in the county of Rangárvallasýsla, east of Hekla. Last erupted in 1878. Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ)
• 1879 - Geirfuglasker. Submarine eruption.
• 1883 - Grímsvötn. '
• ? 1884 - Near Eldey. Submarine eruption. Unclear sources.
• ? 1885 - Grímsvötn. '
• 1887 - Grímsvötn. '
• 1887-1889 Thórðarhyrna, There is a mechanical interaction between Thordarhyrna and Grimsvötn. An eruption between 1887 and 1889 had a VEI of 2.
• 1889 - Grímsvötn. '
• 1892 - Grímsvötn. '
• ? 1896 - Probable eruption south of the Westman Islands
• 1897 - Grímsvötn. ''''

20th century

• 1902-04 - Grímsvötn. '
• 1902-1904 Thórðarhyrna, There is a mechanical interaction between Thordarhyrna and Grimsvötn. The combined eruption from Grimsvötn had a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 4.
• 1905-06 - Grímsvötn. '
• 1908-09 - Grímsvötn. '
• 1910 - Grímsvötn. Ashfall was observed in the east of the country from June to November. This eruption has been assigned by some to Thórðarhyrna which has geological interactions with Grímsvötn, although not in official databases It may also be linked to the Loki-Fögrufjöll eruption of the same year. '
• 1910 Loki-Fögrufjöll The last confirmed eruption was in 1910 when tephra was erupted. It may also be linked to the Grímsvötn eruption of the same year.'
• 1913 - Mundafell / Lambafit east of Hekla. '
• 1918 - Katla. The 1918 eruption of Katla began on 12 October and ended on 5 November. The eruption reached a height of and caused considerable damage in Skaftártunga. Large jökulhlaup left icebergs tall on Mýrdalssandur. '
• 1921 - Askja. A small lava eruption. '
• 1922 - Askja. A small lava eruption. '
• 1922 - Grímsvötn. The eruption began at the end of September and ended within a month. '
• 1923 - Askja. A small lava eruption. '
• 1923 - Grímsvötn. Small eruption. '
• 1926 - Askja. Eruption in the summer. A small island formed in Öskjuvatn. '
• 1926 - at Eldey. Turbulence in the sea for several hours.
• 1927 - Esjufjöll. A small eruption, a lava flow off Breiðamerkurjökull and a Jökulhlaup. One person was killed. It is located at the SE part of the Vatnajökull icecap. '
• 1929 - Askja '
• 1929 - Kverkfjöll. A fire was seen for a long time during the summer.
• 1933 - Grímsvötn. Small eruption. '
• 1934 - Grímsvötn. The eruption began at the end of March and lasted until mid-April.. '
• 1930s - Gjálp An eruption took place in the 1930s. It had also caused a Jökulhlaup, but at the time, science could not yet analyze the events. The eruption remained subglacial. Might be the same as the following eruption north of Grímsvötn. '
• 1938 - Grímsvötn. An eruption north of the caldera but did not emerge from the glacier ice.. '
• ? 1941 - Grímsvötn. Possible eruption. '
• ? 1945 - Grímsvötn. Possible eruption. '
• 1947-48 - Hekla, eruption number 14 began on 29 March with an explosion. First eruption in Hekla in over 100 years. The plume reached a height of ash fall to the south over Fljótshlíð and Eyjafjöll. Heklugjá opened lengthwise, about of lava flowed, mostly to the west and southwest from Axlargígur. One Icelandic geologist died while doing research at the eruption. '
• ? 1954 - Grímsvötn. Possible eruption. '
• ? 1955 - Katla. Probably a small eruption under the glacier. Jökulhlaup took several bridges. No ash or lava seen. '
• 1961 - Askja. Lava eruption began on 26 October on a fissure and lasted until the end of November. '
• 1961 - Dyngjufjöll. Basalt and rhyolite eruption within Vatnajökull National Park.
• 1961 - Trölladyngja. Reports of an eruption in 1961 at Trölladyngja are most likely attributed to nearby Askja Caldera, which erupted the same year.
• 1963- 67 - Vestmannaeyjar : Surtsey rose from the sea on 14 November in an underwater eruption southwest of Geirfuglasker. Later, the islands Syrtlingur and Jólnir were formed but soon disappeared again.
• 1970 - Hekla, eruption number 15 began on 5 May in the southwestern part of Heklugjár and in Skjólkvíar north of the mountain. Considerable ash fall to NNV, all the way north to Húnavatnssýslur. In the mountain itself the activity stopped after a few days but in Skjólkvíar it erupted for about 2 months. '
• 1973 - Eldfell, Westman Islands, VEI 3. A eruption fissure opens east of the town Vestamnnaeyar on the island Heimaey on 23 January. About a third of the town was buried under lava, over 400 properties were destroyed. The lava front was cooled by pumping seawater on it, it saved the important harbour entrance. A volcano formed and Heimaey expanded to the east.
• 1975 - Krafla fires, 1st eruption 20 December. Lava eruption from a short fissure at Leirhnjúkur. Note: Mývatnseldar,, Lake Mývatn and the volcanic "Viti crater" formed by Krafla. '
• 1977 - Krafla fires, 2nd eruption 27–29 April. '
• 1977 - Krafla fires, 3rd eruption 8–9 September. '
• 1980 - Krafla fires, 4th eruption 16 March. '
• 1980 - Krafla fires, 5th eruption 10–18 July. '
• 1980-81 - Hekla, eruption number 16 began on 17 August and lasted until the 20th. Ash spread to the north, lava flowed mostly to the west and north. The eruption resumed on 9 April of the following year and ended on 16 April. '
• 1980 - Krafla fires, 6th eruption, 18–23 October. ' '
• 1981 - Krafla fires, 7th eruption, 30 January - 4 February. '
• 1981 - Krafla fires, 8th eruption, 18–23 November. '
• 1983 - Grímsvötn. A small eruption at the end of May. '
• ? 1984 - Grímsvötn. Probably a small eruption. '
• 1984 - Krafla fires, 9th eruption, 4–18 September. '
• ? 1985 - Final ridge under Vatnajökull. Possible eruption. small earthquakes and sigg boilers in the glacier.
• 1986 Loki-Fögrufjöll Possible subglacial eruption - the last confirmed eruption was in 1910..
• 1991 - Hekla, eruption number 17 began on 17 January in the southern part of Heklugjár but soon subsided. One crater east of the mountain was active until 17 March. A considerable amount of lava flowed on the south side of the mountain, but there was little ash fall. '
• 1991 Loki-Fögrufjöll Possible subglacial eruption - the last confirmed eruption was in 1910..
• 1996 - 1996 eruption of Gjálp. An eruption began on 30 September in a fissure under Vatnajökull between Bárðarbunga and Grímsvötn and lasted until 13 October. The seismic activity indicated a magma flow from Bárðarbunga. Melting water flowed to Grímsvötn and filled the subglacial lake to highest level ever recorded. The long-awaited jökulhlaup then submerged Skeiðarársandur on 5 November, damaging several bridges. '
• 1998 - Grímsvötn. 18–28 December. '
• 2000 - Hekla, eruption number 18. 26 February - 8 March. ''''

21st century

• 2004 - Grímsvötn. The eruption began on 1 November. '
• 2006 Loki-Fögrufjöll Possible subglacial eruption - the last confirmed eruption was in 1910..
• 2008 Loki-Fögrufjöll Possible subglacial eruption - the last confirmed eruption was in 1910..
• 2010 - Eyjafjallajökull. The eruption began at Fimmvörðuháls on 20 March. '
• 2010 - Eyjafjallajökull. The VEI 4 eruption began in Eyjafjallajökull on 14 April. It caused major disruption to air travel in Northwestern Europe and across the North Atlantic, not seen before. '
• 2010 - Bárðarbunga. On 26 September 2010, an earthquake swarm was recorded with over 30 earthquakes measuring up to 3.7M_W on the moment magnitude scale. Part of the East volcanic zone (EVZ))
• 2011 - Grímsvötn., The Plinian eruption began on 21 May and caused major disruption to air travel in Northwestern Europe from 22 to 25 May 2011. '
• 2011 Loki-Fögrufjöll Possible subglacial eruption - the last confirmed eruption was in 1910..
• 2014-15 - Holuhraun. The eruption began on 29 August 2014, and ended on 28 February 2015. '
• 2014-15 Bárðarbunga. '
• 2021 - Fagradalsfjall. The eruption began in the valley Geldingadalir on 19 March and the lava flowed into the Meradalir and Nátthagi valleys. '
• 2022 - Fagradalsfjall. The eruption began in the valley Meradalir on 3 August on top of a lava flow from the previous year's eruption. '
• 2023 - Litli-Hrútur eruption.. The eruption began at 16:40 UTC on 10 July, north of the Litli-Hrútur volcanic fell, with considerable lava flow.
• 2023-2024 - Sundhnúkur eruptions, Reykjanes Peninsula, near Grindavik,

Volcanic zones and systems

East volcanic zone (EVZ)

Kolbeinsey Ridge (KR)

Mid-Iceland Belt (MIB)

North volcanic zone (NVZ)

Öræfajökull volcanic belt (ÖVB)

Reykjanes volcanic zone (RVZ)

Snæfellsnes volcanic belt (SVB)

South Iceland Seismic Zone (SISZ)

Tjörnes Fracture Zone (TFZ)

West volcanic zone (WVZ)

Eruptive activity

Grímsvötn eruptivity

Katla eruptivity

Hekla eruptivity