South Coast Volcanoes

28 volcanoes in South Coast — mapped with live road conditions, drive times, and directions.

28 volcanoes in South Coast

Eldfell

Baby volcano on Heimaey island. Born in 1973 when it erupted through the town - islanders had to evacuate in fishing boats. Now you can hike up the still-warm slopes. The buried houses are being excavated.

205 m

Helgafell

Helgafell is an inactive 227 m (745 ft) volcanic cone located on the island of Heimaey in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago in Iceland.

Active

Laki

The Lakagígar craters. The 1783 eruption was one of history's worst - killed a quarter of Iceland's population and affected climate worldwide. Today it's a haunting row of craters you can hike. Deep in the highlands, F-road access.

812 m

Katla

The sleeping giant under Mýrdalsjökull glacier. Way bigger than Eyjafjallajökull and long overdue for an eruption. When it blows, it causes massive glacial floods. The ice caves nearby are formed by its geothermal heat. Respect this one.

Active

Eyjafjallajökull

The volcano that shut down Europe in 2010. Don't even try to pronounce it - locals will laugh with you, not at you. It's glacier-capped and still very much active. The eruption views were broadcast worldwide. You can hike around the edges or take a super jeep tour.

Active

Hekla

Iceland's most active volcano - erupted over 20 times since settlement. Medieval Europeans called it the Gateway to Hell. Today it's eerily quiet and beautiful. Scientists say it's overdue for another eruption. You can hike up on good days, but keep an eye on alerts.

Active

Grímsnes

Grímsnes is a relatively small fissure or crater row volcanic system located in South Iceland, located south–east of Lake Thingvallavatn and east of the en echelon group of volcanic systems extending across the Reykjanes Peninsula, that erupted last in the Holocene.

Dormant

Surtsey

The world's newest island, born in 1963 from an underwater eruption. A UNESCO site and scientific reserve - only researchers can visit. Watch it from boat tours. Seeing how life colonizes new land.

Active

Magni

Volcanic feature in Iceland's active zone. The island sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and this is part of why. Reminders that this land is still being made.

1165 m

Móði

Evidence of Iceland's fiery origins. Every landscape here was shaped by volcanoes, whether erupting today or millions of years ago.

1130 m

Skerhóll

Volcanic heritage site. Iceland is one of the most volcanically active places on Earth. Features like this are why.

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Rauðaskál

Evidence of Iceland's fiery origins. Every landscape here was shaped by volcanoes, whether erupting today or millions of years ago.

597 m

Kerið

Colorful crater lake on the Golden Circle. Red volcanic rock, green moss, blue water - the colors are almost fake-looking. Only 3,000 years old, which is young for a volcano. Small entrance fee, easy path down to the water.

Extinct

Stútur

One of Iceland's many volcanic systems. Some are famous, some are quiet. They all contribute to the geothermal energy and dramatic landscapes.

623 m

Öræfajökull

Iceland's highest peak is actually a volcano. Erupted catastrophically in 1362, killing everyone in the district. Hasn't erupted since 1728 but showed signs of unrest recently. Serious mountaineers only.

Active

Hreppar

Part of Iceland's volcanic backbone. The country has over 30 active volcanic systems. This one's contribution to the landscape is all around you.

Extinct

Brennisteinsalda

The Brennisteinsalda is a volcano in the south of Iceland. Its height is about 855 m. It is situated near Landmannalaugar and not far from Hekla.

Active

Þórólfsfell

Þórólfsfell is a basaltic tuya in southern Iceland, east of Fljótshlíð. The upper section is made up of pillow lavas and is 574 metres above sea level.

Dormant

Eldgjá

Eldgjá is a volcano and a canyon in Iceland. Eldgjá is part of the Katla volcano; it is a segment of a 40 kilometres (25 mi) long chain of volcanic craters and fissure vents that extends northeast away from Katla volcano almost to the Vatnajökull ice cap. This fissure experienced a major eruption around 939 CE, which was the largest effusive eruption in recent history. It covered about 780 square kilometres (300 sq mi) of land with 18.6 cubic kilometres (4.5 cu mi) of lava from two major lava flows.

Dormant

Brennisteinsalda

The Brennisteinsalda is a volcano in the south of Iceland. Its height is about 855 m. It is situated near Landmannalaugar and not far from Hekla.

Dormant

Torfajökull

One of Iceland's largest volcanic systems. Famous for Landmannalaugar's colorful rhyolite mountains and hot springs. The hiking here is unreal - rainbow-colored peaks everywhere.

Dormant

Maelifell

Evidence of Iceland's fiery origins. Every landscape here was shaped by volcanoes, whether erupting today or millions of years ago.

Dormant

Bláhnjúkur

Blue Peak - colorful rhyolite mountain at Landmannalaugar. Popular hike. Not active volcano but volcanic origin.

Dormant

Búrfell

Búrfell is a 669 m (2,195 ft) basalt tuya located in Iceland. It is situated in the south of the country along the western boundary of the Þjórsárdalur valley.

Dormant

Tindfjallajökull

Tindfjallajökull is a glacier in the south of Iceland whose name is also given to the underlying stratovolcano. Tindfjöll is a ridge that extends to the south of the glacier and is an alternative name for the volcano. The name of the glacier in Icelandic means "Tindfjöll glacier".

Dormant