Lakagígar (Laki Craters)

About this place

Lakagígar, the «craters of Laki», is a volcanic fissure in the western part of Vatnajökull National Park in south Iceland, about 33 km in a straight line north-west of the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur and close to the Eldgjá fissure. Laki itself is a mountain that the fissure cuts through, and the system lies between the Mýrdalsjökull and Vatnajökull glaciers. On 8 June 1783 a fissure 25 km long opened here with more than 130 vents, and the violent eruption lasted eight months, until February 1784, pouring out about 14 cubic kilometres of basalt lava and clouds of poisonous gases. It was one of the greatest disasters in Iceland's history, killing more than half of the country's livestock, and its effects on climate reached Europe and the wider Northern Hemisphere. Today a long row of low volcanic cones runs across a wide lava plain, blanketed in thick, pale green moss. From the top of Mount Laki the whole line can be seen stretching to the horizon, with lakes and lava channels, and short trails lead into some of the craters, where walls of red and black lava are exposed. It is reached only by a gravel highland track for four-wheel-drive vehicles, open in summer only and with river crossings, so go only in a suitable vehicle or on a guided tour. The moss is very fragile and takes decades to grow, so keep to the marked paths.