Volcanoes in Iceland – 12 known volcanoes and their eruptions

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | Iceland is one of the world's most volcanically active areas – and in recent years we have been reminded of this time and again. Since 2021, the Reykjanes Peninsula has been hit by a long series of volcanic eruptions, while classic volcanoes such as Hekla, Katla and Grímsvötn continue to be monitored.

I (Helena) have lived at the foot of the Eldfell volcano on the Västmanna Islands, which had its dramatic eruption in 1973. Here we take a closer look at twelve known volcanoes in Iceland, their history and most recent eruptions – and why there are actually so many volcanoes here.

I have lived at the foot of a volcano

When I was 17 years old, exchange student in Iceland I stayed with a family on Heimaey, the largest of the Västmanna Islands, right next to the Eldfell volcano.

Eldfell erupted dramatically in 1973, evacuating almost the entire island’s population. When I lived there just under 20 years later, the volcano was of course part of the landscape – but strangely enough, I didn’t think much of the fact that I was actually living next to a volcano. Given what has happened in Iceland in the 2020s, that thought feels a little more dizzying today.

Why are there so many volcanoes in Iceland?

Iceland is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian plates are slowly moving apart. At the same time, the country sits over a so-called hotspot, where unusually hot magma rises from the Earth's interior. The combination makes Iceland one of the world's most volcanically active areas.

Geological activity is not only evident through volcanic eruptions. There are also earthquakes, geysers, hot springs and geothermal areas where water bubbles and bubbles from the ground.

Icelanders have also become adept at harnessing the forces beneath the ground. Geothermal energy is used extensively for heating – and the same forces are behind all the hot baths that have become a natural part of life and the tourist experience in Iceland.

What happens when Iceland's volcanoes erupt?

Volcanic activity is closely monitored in Iceland, including measurements of earthquakes, ground movements and gases. But even with modern technology, it is not possible to say exactly when the next eruption will occur or how it will develop.

This became clear during the new volcanic period on the Reykjanes Peninsula. After the eruptions at Fagradalsfjall in 2021, 2022 and 2023, activity shifted towards Svartsengi and Sundhnúkur, near Grindavík. Since the end of 2023, the area has been hit by repeated eruptions, evacuations and lava flows that have affected both roads and buildings.

There is no eruption in August 2026, but the ground continues to rise and magma is accumulating under Svartsengi. The Icelandic Meteorological Institute estimates that a new magma intrusion, possibly followed by another eruption, is still the most likely scenario.

12 volcanoes in Iceland

Iceland has a large number of active volcanic systems, and volcanic eruptions are a natural part of the country's geological history. Some volcanoes lie exposed in the landscape, while others are hidden under huge glaciers. Some erupt relatively quietly, while others can cause explosive eruptions, ash clouds, and large glacial flows. Here are twelve of Iceland's most famous volcanoes and volcanic areas.

1. Hekla

Hekla is one of Iceland's most famous and active volcanoes. Since the settlement of Iceland, it has had a large number of eruptions, including powerful explosive eruptions and long lava flows. The most recent eruption occurred in 2000. Hekla is closely monitored, but it is impossible to predict when the next eruption will occur.

Latest outbreak: 2000

2nd Katla

Katla lies beneath the Mýrdalsjökull glacier in southern Iceland and is one of the country's most famous volcanoes. Historically, eruptions have been able to cause enormous glacier flows when volcanic heat melted large amounts of glacial ice.

The last major confirmed eruption occurred in 1918. Katla is still active and is being closely monitored, but it is impossible to say when the next eruption will occur.

Latest outbreak: 1918

3. Eyjafjallajökull

Eyjafjallajökull lies under a layer of ice covering 100 square kilometres. The volcano became famous in 2010, when it had a major eruption and the world's TV reporters struggled to pronounce its name.

The volcanic eruption sent large amounts of ash into the air, resulting in severe disruption to air traffic worldwide. This is precisely what made the volcanic eruption visible in the media around the world.

Latest outbreak: 2010

4. the Öræfajökull

Öræfajökull is one of Iceland's largest active volcanoes, and is also home to the country's highest peak, Hvannadalshnjúkur, at 2,110 meters above sea level. Öræfajökull is also the name of the glacier that covers most of the volcano, in the southern part of the Vatnajökull area. The volcano has not erupted for a very long time, although it saw increased activity in 2017-2018.

Latest outbreak: 1727

5. krafla

Krafla is a caldera (a large depression in the Earth's crust created by the collapse of a large volcano) about 10 kilometres in diameter, located near Lake Mývatn in the north. The volcano has remained quiet since its last eruption, which lasted between 1975 and 1984, and is now described as a moderately active volcano.

Latest outbreak: 1975-1984 (Krafla Fires)

6. ash tray

Askja is a large volcanic caldera in the central highlands of Iceland, north of Vatnajökull. A powerful eruption in 1875 spread ash over large areas and contributed to difficult conditions in Iceland.

Between 2021 and 2026, a clear land uplift was measured at Askja, but in August 2026, the Icelandic Meteorological Institute announced that this period of land uplift had ended.

Latest outbreak: 1961

7th Snæfellsjökull

Snæfellsjökull is a 1,446-meter-high glacier-covered volcano located on the Snæfellsnes peninsula in western Iceland. The volcano is famous, among other things, from the book To the centre of the earth, by Jules Verne. This volcano seems to stay calm.

Latest outbreak: 200s

8. Gravel ponds

Vatnajökull is not only Europe's largest glacier, but also home to several volcanoes. Grímsvötn lies under the ice on the north-west side of the glacier. Because the volcano is located under a glacier, eruptions often cause huge surges of water, known as 'jökellopp'. Grímsvötn is a very active volcano that has been erupting regularly since the early 14th century, so perhaps there is no reason to think it will stop now?

Latest outbreak: 2011

9. bárðabunga

Bárðarbunga is a so-called stratovolcano with a crater located under the Vatnajökull glacier. The volcano is part of a gigantic volcanic system, which is around 100 kilometers long and 25 kilometers wide.

The most recent eruption lasted for six months, between 2014 and 2015. Bárðarbunga continues to be closely monitored after the extensive activity in 2014–2015. Of course, it is impossible to say when the next eruption will occur. Sleep Bárðarbunga, sleep!

Latest outbreak: 2014-2015

10th Thrihnúkagigur

Located just southeast of Reykjavik, Thrihnúkagigur is a dormant volcano, but it's exciting because you can actually visit it! internally. The spectacular excursion is arranged here Inside the Volcano, where visitors are lowered into the enormous magma chamber – a very unusual experience that has made Þríhnúkagígur a popular tourist destination.

Latest outbreak: About 4,000 years ago

11. fire trap

The Eldfell volcano is located next to the inactive Helgafell volcano, on the island of Hemön (Westman Islands) on the southern side of Iceland. Eldfell had a large and unexpected eruption in 1973. The 5000 or so inhabitants were woken up in the middle of the night by a violent eruption, but luckily everyone was evacuated.

As the lava began to approach the harbor, a spectacular effort was made to try to save it. Firefighters began spraying seawater over the lava front, and when it was seen that the cooling actually seemed to slow the lava, the operation was scaled up considerably. Powerful pumps, pipes, and hoses were deployed, and huge amounts of seawater were pumped directly over the glowing lava to make it solidify and change direction.

The work was dramatic to say the least. Bulldozers were driven onto the still hot and partly moving lava to lay large water pipes, while pumps worked around the clock. In total, about 6.2 million tons of seawater were pumped over the lava fields during the operation.

The effort succeeded in slowing down parts of the lava flow and helped to prevent the harbor entrance from being closed. This was extremely important for Hemön, as the fishing port was the very foundation of the island's economy. Ironically, the eruption also had a positive effect: the solidified lava changed the coastline and gave the harbor better protection from the sea than before.

Latest outbreak: 1973

12. Fagradalsfjall and the Reykjanes Peninsula

The Reykjanes Peninsula became volcanically active again in 2021, after about 800 years without an eruption on the peninsula. The first eruption took place in Geldingadalir at Fagradalsfjall and quickly became a major attraction, not least because the site was accessible on foot.

New eruptions followed at Meradalir in 2022 and at Litli-Hrútur in 2023. After that, the situation changed. From the end of 2023, activity was concentrated further west, to the area around Sundhnúkur and Svartsengi, near Grindavík.

Between December 2023 and July 2025, a long series of eruptions occurred along the Sundhnúkur crater ridge. Lava has reached settlements in Grindavík, roads have been destroyed, and the Blue Lagoon has had to close on several occasions.

The most recent eruption began on July 16, 2025, and ended in early August of that year. However, as of August 2026, magma continues to accumulate beneath Svartsengi, and the volcanic period on the Reykjanes Peninsula is not considered to be over.

Latest outbreak: 2021

More about Iceland

Iceland is an incredibly exciting country. Here you will find more tips and reports:

• Facts about Iceland
• The Icelandic language
• What do you eat in Iceland?
• Things to do in Iceland – our best tips

Photos of volcanoes in the post are from Pixabay. Introductory photos are our own.