Katla Volcano

Updated: May 22, 2025 06:17 GMT - refresh

subglacial volcano

Southern Iceland, 63.63°N / -19.06°W

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Summit height: 1512 m / 4,961 ft

Current status: restless (2 out of 5)

Last update: 31 Jul 2024 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)

Activity Updates

Katla volcano, located near the southern end of Iceland's eastern volcanic zone, is hidden beneath the Myrdalsjökull icecap. Katla is one of Iceland's most active and most dangerous volcanoes, infamous for its large eruptions happening on average every 50-100 year, causing devastating glacial floods (jökullhlaups).
In recent year, increased seismicity and inflation of Katla has been being measured. Katla, statistically due for a new eruption, is being very closely monitored and an eruption in a not too distant future would not come as a big surprise.

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Typical eruption style: Explosive basaltic and dacitic eruptions, voluminous lava flows
Katla volcano eruptions: 920 AD, 950 AD (?), 1150, 1177, 1245, 1262, 1311, 1357, 1416, 1440, 1450, 1500, 1580, 1612, 1625, 1660-61, 1721, 1755-56, 1823, 1860, 1918, 1955(?), 1999(?)

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location
May 19, 07:42 pm (Universal Time)	0.2 0.1 km	5.8 km (3.6 mi) to the NW	6.1 km ENE of Goðabunga	Info
Sunday, May 18, 2025 GMT (2 quakes)
May 18, 03:32 am (Reykjavik)	0.1 0.1 km	28 km (17 mi) to the N	Iceland: 8.5 km ENE of Álftavatn	Info
May 18, 03:08 am (Reykjavik)	0.2 0.2 km	29 km (18 mi) to the N	Iceland: 7.9 km ENE of Álftavatn	Info
Friday, May 16, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
May 16, 06:05 am (Universal Time)	0.1 4.5 km	5.7 km (3.5 mi) to the NW	5.1 km ENE of Goðabunga	Info
Thursday, May 15, 2025 GMT (3 quakes)
May 15, 09:29 pm (Universal Time)	0.9 0.1 km	4.1 km (2.5 mi) to the SW	3.3 km NNW of Hábunga	Info
May 15, 12:21 pm (Universal Time)	1.7 1.1 km	14 km (8.9 mi) to the NW	7.3 km NNW of Goðabunga	Info
May 15, 10:20 am (Universal Time)	1.0 0.1 km	1.6 km (1 mi) to the S	4.5 km NNE of Hábunga	Info
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 GMT (2 quakes)
May 14, 11:49 pm (Universal Time)	2.1 14 km	26 km (16 mi) to the W	5.6 km NNW of Básar	Info
May 14, 08:01 am (Universal Time)	1.4 0.1 km	2.2 km (1.3 mi) to the S	4.3 km NNE of Hábunga	Info

View recent quakes

Background

The subglacial dominantly basaltic volcano is one of Iceland's most active and is a frequent producer of damaging jökulhlaups, or glacier-outburst floods. A large 9 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 historical 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 AD produced a voluminous lava flow of about 18 cu km, 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 produced dacitic explosive eruptions during the Holocene.

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Source: GVP, Smithsonian Institute

Significant volcanic eruptions: Katla volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Katla has had at least 128 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 17 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 4 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Katla volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Katla volcano since around 1000 AD. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Katla can be found on the news page of Katla volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths	Damage
2011 Jul 9 (eruptive episode 2011 Jul 9)	Historical obs./docs.	0		light	Info
2011 Jul 9: The Iceland Met Office and news sources reported that on 9 July a jökulhlaup from Myrdalsjökull, the ice sheet that covers Katla, originated from three ice cauldrons in the SE part of the caldera. During previous weeks microseismicity had been registered near several of the ice cauldrons. Around the time of peak harmonic tremor, in the early evening on 8 July, the Myrdalsjökull flood monitoring system indicated increased conduction. The water level reached the bridge around midnight and damaged the sensors. According to news articles, one new cauldron that had formed, along with cracks in the glacier around the cauldrons, may have been caused by a small eruption at Katla although no evidence of an eruption was observed. The jökulhlaup had destroyed a 128-m-long bridge and caused damage, resulting in the closing of part of the Ring Road. About 200 people were evacuated from the area but allowed to return home later that day. On 10 July the water had subsided and returned to normal levels. (reference #2432) "At around 3:00 am (0300 GMT) ... we had a glacial meltwater runoff from underneath the glacier," Evgenia Ilyinskaya, a volcanologist at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, told AFP. The giant flood took out a bridge and part of the main road that circles Iceland and prompted evacuations, but there were no reports of injuries. (reference #9678) Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #9678 Associated Press (2011): Another Iceland volcano stirs, causing flooding: official. July 9, 2011. Retrieved from link Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
?? 1999 Jul 17 ? - Aug 15 ±5 d.	Uncertain Eruption	?
?? 1955 Jun 25	Uncertain Eruption	?
1918 Oct 12 - Nov 4	South side of caldera Historical obs./docs.	4+
1918 Oct 12 (eruption 1918 Oct 12 - Nov 4)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	4		light	Info
1918 Oct 12: Tephra Volume: 7 x 108m3, area of activity: south side of caldera, eruptive Characteristics: subglacial eruption, explosive eruption, damage (land, property, etc.). (reference #2432) The eruption lasted for 3 weeks, spreading tephra widely over surrounding areas. Sheep and horses were swept away by the jokulhlaup and many people narrowly escaped. (reference #12034) Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #12034 Magnus Gumundsson (2005): Chapter 6. Subglacial volcanic activity in Iceland. In Developments in quaternary sciences (Vol. 5, pp. 127-151). Elsevier. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1860 May 8 - May 27	Historical obs./docs.	4
1823 Jun 26 - Jul 23	Arcuate fissure in south part of caldera Historical obs./docs.	3?
1755 Oct 17 - 1756 Feb 13	E-W fissure in center of caldera Historical obs./docs.	5?
1755 Oct 17 (eruption 1755 Oct 17 - 1756 Feb 13)	Historical obs./docs.	4	2		Info
1755 Oct 17: 2 killed by lightning during tephra fall. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1721 May 11 - Oct 15 ±45 d.	Historical obs./docs.	5?
1721 May 11 (eruption 1721 May 11 - Oct 15 ±45 d.)	Historical obs./docs.	5		light	Info
1721 May 11: Tephra Volume: 1.2 x 10⁹m³, eruptive characteristics: subglacial eruption, explosive eruption, damage (land, property, etc.) (reference #2432) Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1660 AD Nov 3 - 1661	Historical obs./docs.	4
1660 AD Nov 3 (eruption 1660 AD Nov 3 - 1661)	Historical obs./docs.	4		light	Info
1660 AD Nov 3: Tephra Volume: 2 x 10⁸m³, eruptive characteristics: subglacial eruption, explosive eruption, damage (land, property, etc.). Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1625 AD Sep 2 - Sep 14	Historical obs./docs.	5
1625 AD Sep 2 (eruption 1625 AD Sep 2 - Sep 14)	Historical obs./docs.	5			Info
1625 AD Sep 2: Tephra Volume: 1.5 x 10⁹m³, eruptive characteristics: subglacial eruption, explosive eruption, damage (land, property, etc.), evacuation. (reference 32432) Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1612 AD Oct 12	Historical obs./docs.	4
1580 AD Aug 11	Historical obs./docs.	4
1580 AD Aug 11 (eruption 1580 AD Aug 11)	Historical obs./docs.	4			Info
1580 AD Aug 11: Tephra Volume: 2 x 10⁸m³, eruptive characteristics: subglacial eruption, explosive eruption, damage (land, property, etc.) (reference #2432) Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1550 ? AD		4
1500 AD (eruption 1500 ? AD)	Historical obs./docs.	4		light	Info
1500 AD: Damage to land and property. Cited references #2379 Siebert, L, Simkin T (2002-): Volcanoes of the World: an Illustrated Catalog of Holocene Volcanoes and their Eruptions. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-3, (http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/) Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1500 ? AD		4
1450 ±50 y. AD		?
1440 AD	Historical obs./docs.	4
1416 AD	Historical obs./docs.	4?
1357 AD (eruption 1357 ±3 y. AD)	Historical obs./docs.	4		light	Info
1357 AD: 1357 +3 years, tephra volume: 7 x 10⁸m³, area of activity: SW of Kotlugja, eruptive characteristics: subglacial eruption, explosive eruption, damage (land, property, etc.) evacuation. (reference #2432) Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1357 ±3 y. AD	SW of Kotlugja Historical obs./docs.	4+
1311 AD Jan 18	Historical obs./docs.	?
1311 AD Jan 18 (eruption 1311 AD Jan 18)	Historical obs./docs.	4	50-100 (*)		Info
1311 AD Jan 18: Many farms destroyed by jokulhlaups and probably many people drowned. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1262 AD (eruption 1262 AD)	Historical obs./docs.	3	1-50 (*)		Info
1262 AD: Probably some casualties. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1262 AD	Historical obs./docs.	5
1245 AD	Historical obs./docs.	4
1210 ? AD		4
1177 AD (eruption 1177 ±2 y. AD)	Historical obs./docs.	3		light	Info
1177 AD: 1177 +2 years, tephra volume: 1 x 10⁷m³, eruptive characteristics: subglacial eruption, explosive eruption, damage (land, property, etc.). (reference #2432) Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1177 ±2 y. AD	Historical obs./docs.	3
1150 ±50 y. AD		?
1000 ? AD	Discredited Eruption

(*) Estimated numbers

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

Katla Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Katla volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Katla occurred in 1918.

+How often does Katla volcano erupt?

Since 920 AD, Katla volcano has had at least 17 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 65 years.

+How active is Katla volcano at present?

Katla volcano is occasionally active: Since 1900, it has had one eruption, which occurred in 1918.

+When was the largest eruption of Katla volcano?

The largest eruption of Katla volcano in historic times occurred during 1755 - 1756. It ranks as a plinian eruption with a magnitude 5 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale. Eruption of this size are often catastrophic on a regional scale.

Latest satellite images

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Latest satellite images

Katla 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).