Skaftáreldar at Laki

Skaftáreldar

AT LAKI

Today Lakagígar are grown with moss, but the area is charming for outdoor activities such and hiking and simply enjoying the power of nature. Next year, there will be 240 years since one of the biggest volcanic eruptions in Iceland's history began, on June 8, 1783 by the mountain Laki, southwest of Vatnajökull in Vestur-Skaftafellssýsla. The eruption happened on a 25 km long series of craters, the Laki craters, with about 135 craters. The eruption lasted eight months. The lava field, the Skaftáreldar lava field, is the second largest in historical time where the total volume of the lava is about 13 km³ and its area covers 580 km² of land. The lava actually has two names, the western part is called Eldhraun, while the eastern part is called Brunahraun. Laki

Tjarnargígur south of Laki

craters were declared to be preserved in 1971, and are now a part of Vatnajökull National Park. Ash and volcanic fumes caused a lot of mist and fog over Iceland, fog that then later also spread over Europe, America and east to Asia. Heavy pollution accompanied the haze, so livestock fell in great numbers, which in turn led to famine not only here, but all over the Northern Hemisphere. These were the Móðuharðindi, the greatest disasters that have befallen Icelanders before that time and ever since. About 20% of the population died in the Móðuharðindi. It was only a few lifespans ago. Will we get another eruption like this soon? It is up to the whims of nature.

Summer night by Skaftá, wich runs through the area

Lakagígar at the front, then Fögrufjöll by Langisjór to the north and the west of the craters seen in the wintertime