Iceland Rocks (in more ways than one)

Iceland has this funny habit of blowing up every now and then. In fact, Iceland experiences a volcanic eruption of some kind on average every 4-5 years. Some smaller, some larger. There are roughly 130 or so volcanoes in Iceland, and around 30 of those are considered active which means that there is a good chance that they will erupt sooner or later. However, sooner or later in volcanic terms means this could be anything from 2 weeks to 2,000 years and far beyond, we never know for sure. Of the many eruptions that have happened in Iceland, some are more notable than others.

The largest ever eruption in Iceland’s history was Laki, which occurred in June 1783 and lasted for around eight months. The eruption was so massive that 120,000,000 tons of sulfur dioxide spread across Europe causing widespread famine due to the climate effects, and some effects even reached North and West Africa, as well as parts of the Middle East and Asia. It is widely speculated the eruption and subsequent famine was one of the major triggers for the French Revolution.

Jumping ahead a few decades to 2010 and the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull. Possibly one of the most infamous volcanic eruptions in recent history, Eyjafjallajökull, a stratovolcano in South Iceland, awoke from its slumber to clear its throat. Despite being much smaller than Laki, it still ejected hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon dioxide and soot that spread across Europe. The ultra-fine particles of this soot meant that air-traffic had to be halted, causing chaos to millions of passengers and costs of up to €2,5 billion.

But how do these volcanic events happen and why so frequently in Iceland? Iceland is in a unique, geological position on the planet. The mid-Atlantic ridge is an ocean ridge which separates the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. Iceland is literally being pulled apart by around 2.5 cm every year, which is about as fast as your nails grow. This leads to a lot of seismic activity, which often involves volcanoes bringing fresh, molten lava to the surface and creating new land.

Fortunately, this means that Iceland offers many fantastic opportunities to learn more about its volcanic past.

In all of our tours, you can visit one of the many lava caves around Iceland to understand what happens during and after a lava flow from an eruption and how these beautiful caves are formed. Easy to add to any itinerary based in the South, West and North and also around the Reykjavík Capital Area. A unique way to journey to the centre of the Earth. On top of a wide network of lava tunnels and dormant volcanoes (as well as some that are not completely dormant), Þríhnúkagígur is the sole location on Earth where you can descend 120 down into a dormant volcano and safely explore its vast lava chamber, offering a truly unparalleled experience.

Iceland has experienced three eruptions in almost the same place on the Reykjanes peninsula in the last 2.5 years, and visitors lucky enough to be visiting at the same time were able to hike to the crater site to see the live show under the watchful eye of our incredible search and rescue team.

Elevate your Icelandic adventure by seamlessly integrating a volcano-based experience into your existing itinerary. From thrilling hikes to volcanic craters and lava fields, to immersive explorations of geothermal wonders, amplify your journey with the awe-inspiring forces that shaped Iceland's dramatic landscapes. Tailor your itinerary to include fiery encounters, creating unforgettable memories amidst the geological wonders of this dynamic destination.

In short, for those interested in volcanoes (let’s face it, who wouldn´t be) get in touch with info@hl.is to create an wonderful, tailor made experience incorporating Iceland’s many volcano wonders.

Bonus Link!: For all the budding volcanologists, here is a site with lots of fascinating information about Iceland‘s active volcanoes.