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Katla Volcano

Updated: May 1, 2025 18:35 GMT -
subglacial volcano
Southern Iceland, 63.63°N / -19.06°W
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)

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 TimeMag / DepthDistance / Location
May 1, 01:18 pm (Universal Time)
1.0

4.3 km
30 km (18 mi) to the W 11.6 km SW of Básar Info
May 1, 07:29 am (Universal Time)
1.0

2.5 km
29 km (18 mi) to the W 10.8 km SW of Básar Info
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Apr 30, 11:11 am (Universal Time)
0.5

7.2 km
17 km (10.8 mi) to the NW 6.7 km ENE of Básar Info
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 GMT (4 quakes)
Apr 29, 10:08 am (Reykjavik)
0.7

8.5 km
1.2 km (0.7 mi) to the W Iceland: 5.4 km N of Hábunga 1 reportInfo
Apr 29, 08:31 am (Universal Time)
0.7

1 km
29 km (18 mi) to the W 11.3 km NW of Skógar Info
Apr 29, 03:50 am (Universal Time)
1.5

2.3 km
29 km (18 mi) to the W 11.0 km SW of Básar Info
Apr 29, 03:17 am (Universal Time)
0.6

2.5 km
30 km (18 mi) to the W 11.1 km SW of Básar Info
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 GMT (2 quakes)
Apr 22, 11:21 pm (Universal Time)
1.5

0.8 km
28 km (17 mi) to the W 8.8 km NW of Skógar Info
Apr 22, 12:27 am (Reykjavik)
1.5

23 km
12 km (7.2 mi) to the W Iceland: 3.1 km SW of Goðabunga Info

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.

---
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.
DateNoteVEIDeathsDamage
2011 Jul 9
(eruptive episode 2011 Jul 9)
Historical obs./docs.
0
light
Info
?? 1999 Jul 17 ? - Aug 15 ±5 d.
Uncertain Eruption
?
?? 1955 Jun 25
Uncertain Eruption
?
1918 Oct 12 - Nov 4South side of caldera
Historical obs./docs.
4+
1918 Oct 12
(eruption 1918 Oct 12 - Nov 4)
Tsunami recorded
Historical obs./docs.
4
light
Info
1860 May 8 - May 27
Historical obs./docs.
4
1823 Jun 26 - Jul 23Arcuate fissure in south part of caldera
Historical obs./docs.
3?
1755 Oct 17 - 1756 Feb 13E-W fissure in center of caldera
Historical obs./docs.
5?
1755 Oct 17
(eruption 1755 Oct 17 - 1756 Feb 13)
Historical obs./docs.
42
Info
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
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
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
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
1550 ? AD4
1500 AD
(eruption 1500 ? AD)
Historical obs./docs.
4
light
Info
1500 ? AD4
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 ±3 y. ADSW 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.
450-100 (*)
Info
1262 AD
(eruption 1262 AD)
Historical obs./docs.
31-50 (*)
Info
1262 AD
Historical obs./docs.
5
1245 AD
Historical obs./docs.
4
1210 ? AD4
1177 AD
(eruption 1177 ±2 y. AD)
Historical obs./docs.
3
light
Info
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?

+How often does Katla volcano erupt?

+How active is Katla volcano at present?

+When was the largest eruption of Katla volcano?

Latest satellite images

Katla satellite image sat1Katla satellite image sat2

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).
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Katla volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Katla volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Katla volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Katla volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Katla volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Katla volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Katla volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Katla volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Katla volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Katla volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Katla volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Katla volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Katla volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Katla volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Katla volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Katla volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Katla volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Katla volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Katla volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Katla volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (scale of few kilometers)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Katla volcano (scale of few kilometers)
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Location of Katla volcano and other volcanoes on Iceland
Location of Katla volcano and other volcanoes on Iceland
Wed, 31 Jul 2024, 14:00

Katla (Iceland) volcano - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 24 July-30 July 2024 (New Activity / Unrest)

Iceland Met Office (IMO) reported that electrical conductivity levels in the Skálmur River, which drains from the Sandfellsjökull glacier on the E part of the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap that covers Katla, began to increase late on 26 July. Increased seismicity within the Katla caldera began to be detected around 0600 on 27 July. Unrest significantly increased at around 1100 and a jökulhlaup (a glacier-outburst flood) began in the river at around 1320. ... Read all
Tue, 30 Jul 2024, 18:25

Katla volcano (Iceland): jökulhlaup detected via Synthetic Aperture Radar

The glacier outburst between Vík and Kirkjubæjarklaustur monitored via Synthetic Aperture Radar technique (image: Sentinel-1)
The recent strong glacial flood that caused the destruction of part of the Ring Road and a bridge over the river was monitored via Sentinel-1 imagery. ... Read all

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