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Stratovolcanoes

Hekla

Iceland's most famous volcano, called the gateway to hell in the Middle Ages – it erupts on average every few decades.

Elevation
1,490 m
Last eruption
2000
Confirmed eruptions
65
Max VEI
5
Country
Iceland
Location
63.98° N, 19.67° W
Region (GVP)
Iceland Neovolcanic Rift Volcanic Province
GVP type
Stratovolcano
Tectonic setting
Rift zone / Oceanic crust (< 15 km)
Main rock type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Show on the timeline GVP entry ↗

Other volcanoes and strong earthquakes within 300 km

About the volcano

Hekla is an elongated volcanic ridge in southern Iceland split by a fissure from which lava emerges. Since a great Plinian eruption in 1104 it has erupted more than twenty times; medieval writers claimed its crater was an entrance to hell. Ash layers from different Hekla eruptions run through the soils of Iceland and Scandinavia, helping geologists and archaeologists date sediments. Its eruptions usually start abruptly, after only a short seismic warning. The last was in 2000, and measurements show that the volcano is once again accumulating magma.

Eruption history

VEI – Volcanic Explosivity Index: 0 = lava outpouring, 4 = like Eyjafjallajökull 2010, 6 = like Pinatubo 1991, 7 = like Tambora 1815. The scale is logarithmic – each step is about 10 times more material.

StartEndVEIVent and dating
26 February 2000 8 March 2000 3 SW flank · Observations: Reported
17 January 1991 11 March 1991 3 Summit, SW, SE & NE flank fissures · Observations: Reported
9 April 1981 16 April 1981 2 Summit and north flank (900 and 740 m) · Observations: Reported
17 August 1980 20 August 1980 3 Summit, SW and NE flanks · Observations: Reported
5 May 1970 5 July 1970 3 Sudurgigar, Hlidargigar, Oldugigar · Observations: Reported
29 March 1947 21 April 1948 4 Hraungigur, Axlargigur, Toppgigur · Observations: Reported
25 April 1913 18 May 1913 2 E & NE of Hekla (Mundafit, Lambafit) · Observations: Reported
27 February 1878 16 April 1878 2 East of Hekla (Krakagigar) · Observations: Reported
2 September 1845 5 April 1846 4 Summit, SW and NE flanks · Observations: Reported
5 April 1766 May 1768 4 Bjallagigar · Observations: Reported
2 April 1725 — 1 SW, south and east of Hekla · Observations: Reported
13 February 1693 14 September 1693 4 Observations: Reported
8 May 1636 June 1637 3 Observations: Reported
3 January 1597 June 1597 4 Observations: Reported
May 1554 June 1554 2 SW of Hekla (Raudubjallar) · Observations: Reported
25 July 1510 — 4 Observations: Reported
c. 1440 — ? SE of Hekla · Correlation: Tephrochronology
1 December 1389 1390 3 Summit ridge, west flank (Raudoldur) · Observations: Reported
19 May 1341 — 3 Observations: Reported
11 July 1300 July 1301 4 Observations: Reported
1222 — 2 Observations: Reported
4 December 1206 — 3 Observations: Reported
19 January 1158 — 4 Observations: Reported
15 October 1104 — 5 Observations: Reported
1050 ± 500 years — ? Austurhraun · Correlation: Tephrochronology
800 ± 50 years — ? Heklutaglahraun · Correlation: Tephrochronology
c. 750 — ? Taglgigahraun, Solvahraun, Stakahraun · Correlation: Tephrochronology
650 ± 500 years — ? NE flank (Helliskvislarhraun) · Correlation: Tephrochronology
550 ± 1,500 years — ? Correlation: Tephrochronology
350 ± 1,500 years — ? Vatnafjöll (Eskihlidarhraun) · Correlation: Tephrochronology
250 ± 2,500 years — ? NE flank (Hestolduhraun), Vatnafjöll · Correlation: Tephrochronology
150 BCE ± 2,500 years — ? Vatnafjöll (Kringluhraun) · Correlation: Tephrochronology
250 BCE ± 500 years — ? NE flank, Vatnafjöll (Langviuhraun) · Correlation: Tephrochronology
650 BCE ± 2,500 years — ? Vatnafjöll (Svalaskardshraun) · Correlation: Tephrochronology
750 BCE ± 500 years — ? NE flank, Vatnafjöll (Langviuhraun) · Correlation: Tephrochronology
850 BCE ± 1,500 years — ? NE flank (Raudkembingahraun), Vatnafjöll · Correlation: Tephrochronology
1,100 BCE ± 50 years — 5 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
1,150 BCE ± 1,500 years — ? Vatnafjöll (Hraunhalsshraun) · Correlation: Tephrochronology
1,250 BCE ± 1,500 years — ? NE flank, Vatnafjöll · Correlation: Tephrochronology
1,350 BCE ± 2,500 years — ? Vatnafjöll · Correlation: Tephrochronology
c. 1,550 BCE — 4 Correlation: Tephrochronology
1,650 BCE ± 2,500 years — ? Vatnafjöll · Correlation: Tephrochronology
1,750 BCE ± 500 years — ? Correlation: Tephrochronology
1,850 BCE ± 2,500 years — ? NE flank (Krokagilsoduhraun), Vatnafjöll · Correlation: Tephrochronology
2,310 BCE ± 20 years — 5 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
2,450 BCE ± 1,500 years — ? Vatnafjöll (Reynnisfellshraun) · Correlation: Tephrochronology
2,750 BCE ± 2,500 years — ? Vatnafjöll · Correlation: Tephrochronology
2,950 BCE ± 500 years — ? Vatnafjöll (Tröllaskógahraun) · Correlation: Tephrochronology
3,350 BCE ± 2,500 years — ? Raudkollar, Vatnafjöll (Grafellshraun) · Correlation: Tephrochronology
3,450 BCE ± 1,500 years — ? Vatnafjöll · Correlation: Tephrochronology
3,750 BCE ± 1,500 years — ? Vatnafjöll · Correlation: Tephrochronology
3,950 BCE ± 500 years — ? Axarhraun, Vatnafjöll · Correlation: Tephrochronology
4,050 BCE ± 500 years — ? Baejarhraun · Correlation: Tephrochronology
4,110 BCE ± 100 years — 5 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
4,150 BCE ± 2,500 years — ? Vatnafjöll (Grasleysisfjallahraun) · Correlation: Tephrochronology
4,250 BCE ± 500 years — ? Knafaholdahraun · Correlation: Tephrochronology
4,350 BCE ± 1,500 years — ? Vatnafjöll (Lambadalshraun) · Correlation: Tephrochronology
4,550 BCE ± 500 years — ? Krokahraun, Vatnafjöll · Correlation: Tephrochronology
4,650 BCE ± 500 years — ? Gunnarsholtshraun · Correlation: Tephrochronology
c. 4,700 BCE — 4 Correlation: Tephrochronology
4,750 BCE ± 2,500 years — ? Vatnafjöll (west of Laufafell) · Correlation: Tephrochronology
4,950 BCE ± 2,500 years — ? Vatnafjöll (Raudölduhraun) · Correlation: Tephrochronology
c. 5,050 BCE — ? Reydarvatnshraun lava flow, Vatnafjöll · Correlation: Tephrochronology
c. 5,150 BCE — 5 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
5,850 BCE ± 2,500 years — ? Svinholdahraun · Correlation: Tephrochronology

Data: Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution (#372070) · Wikipedia (pl) · Wikipedia (en)