The Skaftareldar DISASTER

Exactly 240 years ago, one of the biggest volcanic eruptions in Icelands history began, on June 8, 1783 by Laki mountain, southwest of Vatnajökull in Vestur-Skaftafellssýsla. The eruption opened a series of about 135 craters 25 km long, known as the Laki craters. The eruption lasted eight months. The lava field, the Skaftáreldar lava field, is the second largest in historical times with about 13 km3 total volume of lava covering an area of 580 km2 of land. The lava actually has two names, the western part is called Eldhraun, while the eastern part is called Brunahraun. The Laki craters were declared a preserved area in 1971 and are now part of the Vatnajökull National Park. Ash and volcanic fumes initially spread as a poisonous fog over Iceland that later also spread over Europe, America and Asia. Heavy pollution accompanied the haze, causing livestock to die in great numbers which, in turn, led to famine—not just in Iceland but all over the Northern Hemisphere. These were the Móðuharðindi, the greatest disaster to have befallen Icelanders both up to that time and ever since. About 20% of the population died in the Móðuharðindi. It was only a few generations ago. Will we get another eruption like this soon? Only time will tell.