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Nearest towns or place of interest 

Vik in Myrdal 67 km|<-Laki, Lakagigar ->| Kirkjubaejarklaustur 51 km (R 206)


Laki, Lakagigar

Region: Highland
Coordinates: 64.0000° N 18.2378° W

The 25 km long crater row called Lakagigar was created during a relatively short, intensive, and catastrophic eruption between the 8th of June 1783 and February 1784. It was among the biggest and poisonous lava eruptions of the earth during historical times. It created two vast lava fields with a total area of 565 km², and the total volume of tephra emitted was estimated to have been 12,3 km³. The consequences were enormous. Between 53% and 82% of the domestic animals and 20% of the human population perished as a result.

Sagas of IcelandAs Iceland was under Danish rule at the time, it was debated in the Danish parliament to evacuate the remaining 40.000 Icelanders, and find them new homes in Jutland, but the Icelanders would hear nothing of that. Most of the craters are now covered with Woolly Fringe Moss and the landscape is, to say the least, picturesque. The crater area was proclaimed inviolate in 1971. The Laki Area is now a part of the National Park Skaftafell.

 

Self drive to Laki
4×4 vehicles only
nat@nat.is

Drive from Klaustur or Vik
For Rout F-206 to Laki

Bus schedule to Laki

Local map of the area

Volcanic eruptions in Iceland

Laki in Icelandic

For information on road conditions, see  https://www.vegagerdin.is/en or call the Road Administration Information Line (+354) 1777

4×4 vehicles only

Highland Routes

Photo Credit: Chmee2/Valtameri

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