Grímsvötn Volcano
Updated: Jun 20, 2025 20:43 GMT -
Caldera
Iceland, 64.42°N / -17.33°W 
Summit height: 1725 m (5,659 ft)
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 22 Jan 2025 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)
Grímsvötn is Iceland's most frequently active volcano, probably because it is located on the center of the active NE rift zone of Iceland. Most of the volcano is hidden beneath the giant glacier of Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier.
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Produces notorious and frequent floods of melt-water bursts from the glacier (jökulhlaups).
Grímsvötn volcano eruptions: ca. 1310, 1332, 1341, 1354(?), ca. 1370, ca. 1390, ca. 1430, ca. 1450, ca. 1470, ca. 1490, ca. 1510, ca. 1530, 1598, 1603, 1619, 1629, 1638, 1659, 1681, 1684-85, 1706, 1716, 1725, 1753, 1768, 1774, 1783-85 (Laki fissure eruption: the largest historically known effusive eruption), 1794(?), 1796(?), 1816, 1823, 1838, 1854, 1861(?), 1867, 1873, 1883, 1887-89, 1891-92, 1897, 1902-04, 1922, 1933, 1934, 1934, 1938, 1939(?), 1941(?), 1945, 1948(?), 1954, 1972(?), 1983, 1984(?), 1996, 1998, 2004 (Nov.), 2011 (21-26 May)
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 20, 03:51 pm (Reykjavik) | 0.9 2.5 km | 30 km (19 mi) to the N | Iceland: 3.8 km NNW of Bárðarbunga | Info | |
| Jun 20, 07:09 am (Reykjavik) | 0.4 20 km | 17 km (10.3 mi) to the N | Iceland: 16.5 km ESE of Bárðarbunga | Info | |
| Wednesday, June 18, 2025 GMT (5 quakes) | |||||
| Jun 18, 08:37 pm (Universal Time) | 0.4 0.1 km | 23 km (14 mi) to the N | 7.1 km E of Bárðarbunga | Info | |
| Jun 18, 07:41 pm (Reykjavik) | 0.9 7.7 km | 23 km (14 mi) to the SE | Iceland: 20.2 km SSE of Grímsfjall | Info | |
| Jun 18, 07:41 pm (Universal Time) | 0.9 3.1 km | 22 km (14 mi) to the SE | 19.4 km SE of Grímsfjall | Info | |
| Jun 18, 07:01 pm (Universal Time) | 0.7 0.8 km | 25 km (16 mi) to the N | 6.7 km E of Bárðarbunga | Info | |
| Jun 18, 08:55 am (Universal Time) | 1.1 1.8 km | 26 km (16 mi) to the N | 6.3 km E of Bárðarbunga | Info | |
| Tuesday, June 17, 2025 GMT (2 quakes) | |||||
| Jun 17, 03:38 am (Universal Time) | 2.2 2.4 km | 28 km (18 mi) to the N | 4.7 km NE of Bárðarbunga | Info | |
| Jun 17, 01:39 am (Universal Time) | 2.1 2.5 km | 28 km (17 mi) to the N | 5.2 km ENE of Bárðarbunga | Info | |
Background
Grímsvötn volcano has a 6x8 km large caldera, whose southern rim is exposed. The caldera contains a lake of liquid water, due to the thermal energy from the volcano. The lake is covered by the ice of the glacier, but during eruptions or times of increased hydrothermal activity from the volcano, the amount of melt water and the pressure of the lake against the ice above becomes strong enough to lift the ice dam and pour out at the South side of the glacier in devastating floods known as jökulhlaups.During eruptions, the overlying part of the glacier is often melted through, creating a giant hole in the ice permitting breathtaking views from above onto the lake, from where ash and steam can escape.
Fissures and the Laki fissure eruption in 1783:
The volcano's structure seems to be dominated by NE-SW trending fissures that correspond to the rift zone. Eruptions from these fissures can occur well beyond the extent of the glacier, such as the huge eruption in 1783, known as the Laki fissure eruption.
It is the largest known effusive eruption that has occurred on earth during the past millennia. About 15 cubic kilometers of basaltic lava flows were erupted from a 27-km long fissure over a period of 7 months. Accompanied by enormous amounts of suphur dioxide and fluoride gas, the eruption caused wide-spread crop damage, killed a large number of lifestock and caused a severe famine on Iceland. As a result, one fifth of Iceland's population was killed. Some consequences of the eruption were even noticed in other parts of the world: Volcanic fog (the gas cloud from the eruption) was drifting over Europe and parts of Asia, altering summer temperatures. This eruption was the first one that brought some scientists to the idea that volcanoes can impact the world's climate.
Background
Grímsnes is a relatively small volcanic system located SE of Thingvallavatn lake east of an en echelon group of volcanic fields extending across the Reykjanes Peninsula.
Grímsnes lava flows cover 54 sq km and were erupted from a group of 11 fissures that produced a series of NE-SW-trending crater rows. The eruptions of the basaltic Grímsnes lavas were restricted to a relatively short interval between about 6500 and 5500 years ago.
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Source: GVP, Smithsonian Institute
Significant volcanic eruptions: Grímsvötn volcano
In the past 10,000 years, Grímsvötn has had at least 76 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 37 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 10 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Grímsvötn volcano.
Additionally, there are 10 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Grímsvötn volcano.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Grímsvötn volcano since around 1900. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Grímsvötn can be found on the news page of Grímsvötn volcano.
| Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SW part of the caldera Historical obs./docs. | 4 | ||||
| SW and east sides of caldera Historical obs./docs. | 3 | ||||
| South caldera wall Historical obs./docs. | 3 | ||||
| Gjálp (fissure N of caldera rim) Historical obs./docs. | 3? | ||||
| 1996 Sep 30 (eruption | Historical obs./docs. | 3 | light | Info | |
?? | Uncertain Eruption | ? | |||
| Near south caldera wall Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | ? | |||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 1? | |||
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | ? | |||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 1? | |||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | ? | |||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | ? | |||
| 8 km N of Svartibunki Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
| Volcano Uncertain: Vatnajökull | ? | ||||
| Near south caldera wall Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
| North of Grímsvötn caldera Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
| Volcano Uncertain | 2? | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | ? | ||||
Remark:
Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution
Grímsvötn Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of Grímsvötn volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of Grímsvötn occurred in 2011.
+How often does Grímsvötn volcano erupt?
Since 1332 AD, Grímsvötn volcano has had at least 37 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 18.7 years.
+How active is Grímsvötn volcano at present?
Grímsvötn volcano is infrequently active: Since 1900, it has had 11 eruptions, and been active during 11 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Grímsvötn has been in eruption one in 11.5 years on average. The last eruption was in 2011 and ended 14 years ago.
+When was the largest eruption of Grímsvötn volcano?
The largest eruption known from the younger geological history of Grímsvötn volcano occurred around 8230 BC. It ranks as a sub-plinian eruption with a magnitude 4 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.
Latest satellite images
Grímsvötn Volcano Maps
Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).
Satellite/aerial-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Grímsvötn volcano (scale of few kilometers)
