Laki

Laki is a volcanic fissure system in southern Iceland famous for the catastrophic 1783-1784 eruption that produced extensive lava flows and large gas emissions. The eruption is one of the largest basaltic fissure events in recorded history and had far-reaching environmental effects.

The fissure eruption created a long row of craters and vast lava fields known as Lakagígar, which are a distinctive highland landscape and a subject of geological study. The event had severe local impacts in Iceland and measurable climatic and atmospheric effects across Europe and beyond.

The Laki fissure is part of Iceland’s volcanic systems and lies in a remote highland area where access is by highland roads and tracked routes; conditions can be rough and weather-dependent.

It is located in southern Iceland within the broader volcanic zone associated with the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and nearby ice caps.

• 1783-84 Eruption: The Laki fissure produced a major basaltic eruption in 1783-1784 that released large volumes of lava and gases and had significant climatic and environmental impacts across Europe.
• Lakagígar Craters: The eruption created extensive lava fields and a line of craters known as Lakagígar, which remain a visible landscape feature in the highlands of southern Iceland.