Skip to main content
Back to map
CompareShow on map

Iceland · Fissure vent

Maelifell

Katla

Type
Fissure vent
Elevation
1490m
Last eruption
1918
Maelifell
Photo: The original uploader was RicHard-59 at Finnish Wikipedia. · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Fissure vent
Country
Iceland
Region
Atlantic Ocean / Iceland Neovolcanic Rift Volcanic Province
Elevation
1490m
Coordinates
63.633, -19.083
Last eruption
1918
Tectonic setting
Rift zone / Oceanic crust (< 15 km)
Landform
Cluster
Major rock type
Basalt / Picro-basalt
Geological summary

Katla volcano, located near the southern end of Iceland's eastern volcanic zone, is hidden beneath the Myrdalsjökull icecap. The subglacial basaltic-to-rhyolitic volcano is one of Iceland's most active and is a frequent producer of damaging jökulhlaups, or glacier-outburst floods. A large 10 x 14 km subglacial caldera with a long axis in a NW-SE direction is up to 750 m deep. Its high point reaches 1380 m, and three major outlet glaciers have breached its rim. Although most recorded eruptions have taken place from fissures inside the caldera, the Eldgjá fissure system, which extends about 60 km to the NE from the current ice margin towards Grímsvötn volcano, has been the source of major Holocene eruptions. An eruption from the Eldgjá fissure system about 934 CE produced a voluminous lava flow of about 18 km3, one of the world's largest known Holocene lava flows. Katla has been the source of frequent subglacial basaltic explosive eruptions that have been among the largest tephra-producers in Iceland during historical time and has also produced numerous dacitic explosive eruptions during the Holocene.

From Wikipedia

This summary is short — open the full article for more detail.

Mælifell is a volcano located in Southern Iceland.

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

131 recordedGlossary
Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions · Use arrow keys to move between bars, Enter to open
6380 BCE~6101 BCE · 4 eruptions · max VEI ?6101 BCE~5821 BCE · 4 eruptions · max VEI ?5821 BCE~5542 BCE · 6 eruptions · max VEI ?5542 BCE~5263 BCE · 3 eruptions · max VEI ?5263 BCE~4983 BCE · 5 eruptions · max VEI ?4983 BCE~4704 BCE · 3 eruptions · max VEI ?4704 BCE~4425 BCE · 3 eruptions · max VEI ?4425 BCE~4146 BCE · 4 eruptions · max VEI ?4146 BCE~3866 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?3866 BCE~3587 BCE · 5 eruptions · max VEI ?3587 BCE~3308 BCE · 4 eruptions · max VEI ?3308 BCE~3028 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?3028 BCE~2749 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI 32749 BCE~2470 BCE · 3 eruptions · max VEI ?2470 BCE~2190 BCE · 3 eruptions · max VEI ?2190 BCE~1911 BCE · 8 eruptions · max VEI 41911 BCE~1632 BCE · 5 eruptions · max VEI ?1632 BCE~1353 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI 41353 BCE~1073 BCE · 5 eruptions · max VEI 31073 BCE~794 BCE · 4 eruptions · max VEI 4794 BCE~515 BCE · 8 eruptions · max VEI ?515 BCE~235 BCE · 3 eruptions · max VEI ?235 BCE~44 · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?44~323 · 5 eruptions · max VEI 3323~603 · 4 eruptions · max VEI ?603~882 · 4 eruptions · max VEI ?882~1161 · 6 eruptions · max VEI 41161~1440 · 8 eruptions · max VEI 51440~1720 · 7 eruptions · max VEI 51720~1999 · 7 eruptions · max VEI 56380 BCE4425 BCE2190 BCE235 BCE1720

Detailed timeline

  1. 1999VEI 0Method not stated
    1999-07-17 – 1999-08-15
    W, S, and E margins of caldera
  2. 1955VEI 0Method not stated
    1955-06-25 – end unknown
    East side of caldera
  3. 1918VEI 4Observed
    1918-10-12 – 1918-11-04
    South side of caldera
  4. 1860VEI 4Observed
    1860-05-08 – 1860-05-27
  5. 1823VEI 3Observed
    1823-06-26 – 1823-07-23
    Arcuate fissure in south part of caldera
  6. 1755VEI 5Observed
    1755-10-17 – 1756-02-13
    E-W fissure in center of caldera
  7. 1721VEI 5Observed
    1721-05-11 – 1721-10-15
  8. 1660VEI 4Observed
    1660-11-03 – 1661
  9. 1625VEI 5Observed
    1625-09-02 – 1625-09-14
  10. 1612VEI 4Observed
    1612-10-12 – end unknown
  11. 1580VEI 4Observed
    1580-08-11 – end unknown
  12. 1550VEI 4Geological estimate
    1550 – end unknown
  13. 1500VEI 4Geological estimate
    1500 – end unknown
  14. 1450 (±50 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    1450 – end unknown
  15. 1440VEI 4Observed
    1440 – end unknown
  16. 1416VEI 4Observed
    1416 – end unknown
  17. 1357 (±3 yrs)VEI 4Observed
    1357 – end unknown
    SW of Kotlugja
  18. 1311VEI ?Observed
    1311-01-18 – end unknown
  19. 1262VEI 5Observed
    1262 – end unknown
  20. 1245VEI 4Observed
    1245 – end unknown
  21. 1210VEI 4Geological estimate
    1210 – end unknown
  22. 1177 (±2 yrs)VEI 3Observed
    1177 – end unknown
  23. 1150 (±50 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    1150 – end unknown
  24. 960VEI 3Geological estimate
    960 – end unknown
  25. 950VEI ?Geological estimate
    950 – end unknown
  26. 934 (±2 yrs)VEI 4Geological estimate
    934 – 940
    Eldgjá fissure system (NE flank)
  27. 920VEI 4Observed
    920 – end unknown
  28. 904VEI ?Method not stated
    904 – end unknown
  29. 820VEI ?Geological estimate
    820 – end unknown
  30. 780VEI ?Geological estimate
    780 – end unknown
  31. 680VEI ?Geological estimate
    680 – end unknown
  32. 610VEI ?Geological estimate
    610 – end unknown
  33. 590VEI ?Geological estimate
    590 – end unknown
  34. 540VEI ?Geological estimate
    540 – end unknown
  35. 500VEI ?Geological estimate
    500 – end unknown
  36. 400VEI ?Geological estimate
    400 – end unknown
  37. 290VEI ?Geological estimate
    290 – end unknown
  38. 270 (±12 yrs)VEI 3Geological estimate
    270 – end unknown
  39. 260VEI ?Geological estimate
    260 – end unknown
  40. 200VEI ?Geological estimate
    200 – end unknown
  41. 130VEI ?Geological estimate
    130 – end unknown
  42. 30VEI ?Geological estimate
    30 – end unknown
  43. 80 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    80 BCE – end unknown
  44. 250 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    250 BCE – end unknown
  45. 370 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    370 BCE – end unknown
  46. 430 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    430 BCE – end unknown
  47. 530 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    530 BCE – end unknown
  48. 550 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    550 BCE – end unknown
  49. 560 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    560 BCE – end unknown
  50. 600 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    600 BCE – end unknown
  51. 650 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    650 BCE – end unknown
  52. 700 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    700 BCE – end unknown
  53. 740 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    740 BCE – end unknown
  54. 780 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    780 BCE – end unknown
  55. 850 BCE (±50 yrs)VEI 4Geological estimate
    850 BCE – end unknown
  56. 860 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    860 BCE – end unknown
  57. 920 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    920 BCE – end unknown
  58. 990 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    990 BCE – end unknown
  59. 1160 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    1160 BCE – end unknown
  60. 1190 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    1190 BCE – end unknown
  61. 1220 BCE (±12 yrs)VEI 3Geological estimate
    1220 BCE – end unknown
  62. 1280 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    1280 BCE – end unknown
  63. 1290 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    1290 BCE – end unknown
  64. 1440 BCE (±40 yrs)VEI 4Geological estimate
    1440 BCE – end unknown
  65. 1540 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    1540 BCE – end unknown
  66. 1640 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    1640 BCE – end unknown
  67. 1670 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    1670 BCE – end unknown
  68. 1700 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    1700 BCE – end unknown
  69. 1850 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    1850 BCE – end unknown
  70. 1910 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    1910 BCE – end unknown
  71. 1920 BCEVEI 4Geological estimate
    1920 BCE – end unknown
  72. 1950 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    1950 BCE – end unknown
  73. 2000 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    2000 BCE – end unknown
  74. 2020 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    2020 BCE – end unknown
  75. 2050 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    2050 BCE – end unknown
  76. 2110 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    2110 BCE – end unknown
  77. 2160 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    2160 BCE – end unknown
  78. 2190 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    2190 BCE – end unknown
  79. 2220 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    2220 BCE – end unknown
  80. 2250 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    2250 BCE – end unknown
  81. 2420 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    2420 BCE – end unknown
  82. 2480 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    2480 BCE – end unknown
  83. 2540 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    2540 BCE – end unknown
  84. 2680 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    2680 BCE – end unknown
  85. 2850 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    2850 BCE – end unknown
  86. 2920 BCEVEI 3Geological estimate
    2920 BCE – end unknown
  87. 3180 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    3180 BCE – end unknown
  88. 3280 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    3280 BCE – end unknown
  89. 3370 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    3370 BCE – end unknown
  90. 3390 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    3390 BCE – end unknown
  91. 3480 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    3480 BCE – end unknown
  92. 3510 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    3510 BCE – end unknown
  93. 3640 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    3640 BCE – end unknown
  94. 3670 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    3670 BCE – end unknown
  95. 3720 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    3720 BCE – end unknown
  96. 3790 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    3790 BCE – end unknown
  97. 3810 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    3810 BCE – end unknown
  98. 3930 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    3930 BCE – end unknown
  99. 4060 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    4060 BCE – end unknown
  100. 4210 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    4210 BCE – end unknown
  101. 4240 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    4240 BCE – end unknown
  102. 4280 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    4280 BCE – end unknown
  103. 4370 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    4370 BCE – end unknown
  104. 4430 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    4430 BCE – end unknown
  105. 4610 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    4610 BCE – end unknown
  106. 4660 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    4660 BCE – end unknown
  107. 4750 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    4750 BCE – end unknown
  108. 4810 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    4810 BCE – end unknown
  109. 4880 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    4880 BCE – end unknown
  110. 5020 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    5020 BCE – end unknown
  111. 5040 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    5040 BCE – end unknown
  112. 5070 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    5070 BCE – end unknown
  113. 5180 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    5180 BCE – end unknown
  114. 5230 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    5230 BCE – end unknown
  115. 5360 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    5360 BCE – end unknown
  116. 5460 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    5460 BCE – end unknown
  117. 5470 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    5470 BCE – end unknown
  118. 5550 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    5550 BCE – end unknown
    NE flank
  119. 5560 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    5560 BCE – end unknown
  120. 5630 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    5630 BCE – end unknown
  121. 5710 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    5710 BCE – end unknown
  122. 5720 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    5720 BCE – end unknown
  123. 5730 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    5730 BCE – end unknown
  124. 5850 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    5850 BCE – end unknown
  125. 5890 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    5890 BCE – end unknown
  126. 5960 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    5960 BCE – end unknown
  127. 6050 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    6050 BCE – end unknown
  128. 6170 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    6170 BCE – end unknown
  129. 6200 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    6200 BCE – end unknown
  130. 6230 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    6230 BCE – end unknown
  131. 6380 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    6380 BCE – end unknown

Nearby volcanoes

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.