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Iceland · Crater rows

Reykjanes (volcanic system)

Reykjanes

Type
Crater rows
Elevation
140m
Last eruption
2025
Reykjanes (volcanic system)
Photo: Christian Bickel · CC BY-SA 2.0 de · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Crater rows
Country
Iceland
Region
Atlantic Ocean / Iceland Neovolcanic Rift Volcanic Province
Elevation
140m
Coordinates
63.817, -22.717
Last eruption
2025
Tectonic setting
Rift zone / Oceanic crust (< 15 km)
Landform
Cluster
Major rock type
Basalt / Picro-basalt

Geological summary

The Reykjanes volcanic system at the SW tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula, where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rises above sea level, comprises a broad area of postglacial basaltic crater rows and small shield volcanoes.

Excerpt from the Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution · Read the full summary on GVP →

From Wikipedia

Summary of the Wikipedia article “Reykjanes”

Reykjanes is a small headland on the south-western end of the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland, giving the main peninsula its name. Volcanic action is responsible for forming the entire peninsula. The nearest town is Keflavik.

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

24 recordedGlossary

Record summary

Confirmed eruptions
22
Uncertain eruptions
2
Span of confirmed record
8000 BCE – 2025
Largest confirmed eruption
VEI 4 (1226)
Confirmed eruptions since 1900
3
Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions · Use arrow keys to move between bars, Enter to open
8000 BCE~7666 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 05327 BCE~4992 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 04324 BCE~3990 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 03990 BCE~3656 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1985 BCE~1651 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 2648 BCE~314 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 2314 BCE~20 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 0688~1023 · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1023~1357 · 8 eruptions · max VEI 41357~1691 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 21691~2025 · 7 eruptions · max VEI 38000 BCE5661 BCE2987 BCE648 BCE1691

Detailed timeline

  1. 2025VEI 0Observed
    2025-04-01 – 2025-04-01
    Sundhnúkagígar, Svartsengi fissure swarm
  2. 2025VEI 0Observed
    2025-07-16 – 2025-08-05
    Sundhnúkagígar, Svartsengi fissure swarm
  3. 2023VEI 1Observed
    2023-12-18 – 2024-12-08
    Sundhnúkagígar, Svartsengi fissure swarm
  4. 1970VEI 0Method not stated
    1970-07-02 – end unknown
    Reykjaneshryggur (Eldeyjarbodi)
  5. 1966VEI 0Method not stated
    1966-07-02 – end unknown
    Reykjaneshryggur (Eldeyjarbodi)
  6. 1830VEI 3Observed
    1830-03-13 – 1831-03-16
    Reykjaneshryggur (Eldeyjarbodi)
  7. 1783VEI 3Observed
    1783-05-01 – 1783-08-15
    Reykjaneshryggur (Nyey)
  8. 1583VEI 2Observed
    1583-07-15 – end unknown
    Reykjaneshryggur (near Eldeyjar Islands)
  9. 1240VEI 1Observed
    1240 – end unknown
    Reykjaneshryggur, Arnarsetur, Illahraun
  10. 1238VEI 0Observed
    1238 – end unknown
    Reykjaneshryggur
  11. 1231VEI 3Observed
    1231 – end unknown
    Reykjaneshryggur
  12. 1226VEI 4Observed
    1226-07-15 – 1227
    Reykjaneshryggur
  13. 1223VEI 3Observed
    1223 – end unknown
    Reykjaneshryggur
  14. 1211VEI ?Observed
    1211 – end unknown
    Stampar, Karlsgigur
  15. 1210VEI 3Observed
    1210 – end unknown
    Vatnsfellsgigur
  16. 1179VEI 2Observed
    1179 – end unknown
    Reykjaneshryggur
  17. 920VEI ?Geological estimate
    920 – end unknown
    Reykjaneshryggur (near Eldey)
  18. 200 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    200 BCE – end unknown
    Lambagjá
  19. 400 BCE (±100 yrs)VEI 2Geological estimate
    400 BCE – end unknown
    Sundhnukar
  20. 1800 BCE (±300 yrs)VEI 2Geological estimate
    1800 BCE – end unknown
    Reykjaneshryggur, Stampar
  21. 3800 BCE (±300 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    3800 BCE – end unknown
    Reykjaneshryggur
  22. 4000 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    4000 BCE – end unknown
    Sandfellshaed
  23. 5040 BCE (±90 yrs)VEI 0Geological estimate
    5040 BCE – end unknown
    Hopsnes
  24. 8000 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    8000 BCE – end unknown
    Thrainskjöldur

Nearby volcanoes

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.