Skip to main content
← Back to map
⇄ Compare

Reykjanes (volcanic system)

Reykjanes

Crater rows · Iceland · 140m

The snow-covered Reykjanes volcanic system forms the SW tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula, where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rises above sea level. It is the westernmost of a series of four closely spaced, NE-SW-trending, en-echelon fissure systems that extend diagonally across the Reykjanes Peninsula. Most of this system is covered by Holocene lavas, and eruptions occurred during the 13th century at several locations.
The snow-covered Reykjanes volcanic system forms the SW tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula, where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rises above sea level. It is the westernmost of a series of four closely spaced, NE-SW-trending, en-echelon fissure systems that extend diagonally across the Reykjanes Peninsula. Most of this system is covered by Holocene lavas, and eruptions occurred during the 13th century at several locations. · Photo: Photo by Oddur Sigurdsson, 1998 (Icelandic National Energy Authority). · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Crater rows
Country
Iceland
Region
Atlantic Ocean Volcanic Regions / Iceland Neovolcanic Rift Volcanic Province
Elevation
140m
Coordinates
63.817, -22.717
Last eruption
2025
Tectonic setting
Rift zone / Oceanic crust (< 15 km)
Landform
Cluster
Major rock type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Geological summary

The Reykjanes volcanic system at the SW tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula, where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rises above sea level, comprises a broad area of postglacial basaltic crater rows and small shield volcanoes. The submarine Reykjaneshryggur volcanic system is contiguous with and is considered part of the Reykjanes volcanic system, which is the westernmost of a series of four closely-spaced en-echelon fissure systems that extend diagonally across the Reykjanes Peninsula. Most of the subaerial part of the system (also known as the Reykjanes/Svartsengi volcanic system) is covered by Holocene lavas. Subaerial eruptions have occurred in historical time during the 13th century at several locations on the NE-SW-trending fissure system, and numerous submarine eruptions dating back to the 12th century have been observed during historical time, some of which have formed ephemeral islands. Basaltic rocks of probable Holocene age have been recovered during dredging operations, and tephra deposits from earlier Holocene eruptions are preserved on the nearby Reykjanes Peninsula.

From Wikipedia

Reykjanes is a small headland on the south-western end of the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland, giving the main peninsula its name. Volcanic action is responsible for forming the entire peninsula. The nearest town is Keflavik.

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
8000 BCE~7666 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 05327 BCE~4992 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 04324 BCE~3990 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 03990 BCE~3656 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1985 BCE~1651 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 2648 BCE~314 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 2314 BCE~20 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 0688~1023 · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1023~1357 · 8 eruptions · max VEI 41357~1691 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 21691~2025 · 7 eruptions · max VEI 38000 BCE5661 BCE2987 BCE648 BCE1691

Detailed timeline

  1. 2025VEI ?Observed
    2025-07-16 – 2025-08-05
    Sundhnúkagígar, Svartsengi fissure swarm
  2. 2025VEI ?Observed
    2025-04-01 – 2025-04-01
    Sundhnúkagígar, Svartsengi fissure swarm
  3. 2023VEI 1Observed
    2023-12-18 – 2024-12-08
    Sundhnúkagígar, Svartsengi fissure swarm
  4. 1970VEI 0Geological estimate
    1970-07-02 – Ongoing
    Reykjaneshryggur (Eldeyjarbodi)
  5. 1966VEI 0Geological estimate
    1966-07-02 – Ongoing
    Reykjaneshryggur (Eldeyjarbodi)
  6. 1830VEI 3Observed
    1830-03-13 – 1831-03
    Reykjaneshryggur (Eldeyjarbodi)
  7. 1783VEI 3Observed
    1783-05-01 – 1783-08-15
    Reykjaneshryggur (Nyey)
  8. 1583VEI 2Observed
    1583-07-15 – Ongoing
    Reykjaneshryggur (near Eldeyjar Islands)
  9. 1240VEI 1Observed
    1240 – Ongoing
    Reykjaneshryggur, Arnarsetur, Illahraun
  10. 1238VEI 0Observed
    1238 – Ongoing
    Reykjaneshryggur
  11. 1231VEI 3Observed
    1231 – Ongoing
    Reykjaneshryggur
  12. 1226VEI 4Observed
    1226-07-15 – 1227
    Reykjaneshryggur
  13. 1223VEI 3Observed
    1223 – Ongoing
    Reykjaneshryggur
  14. 1211VEI ?Observed
    1211 – Ongoing
    Stampar, Karlsgigur
  15. 1210VEI 3Observed
    1210 – Ongoing
    Vatnsfellsgigur
  16. 1179VEI 2Observed
    1179 – Ongoing
    Reykjaneshryggur
  17. 920VEI ?Geological estimate
    920 – Ongoing
    Reykjaneshryggur (near Eldey)
  18. 200 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 200 – Ongoing
    Lambagjá
  19. 400 BCE (±100 yrs)VEI 2Geological estimate
    BCE 400 – Ongoing
    Sundhnukar
  20. 1800 BCE (±300 yrs)VEI 2Geological estimate
    BCE 1800 – Ongoing
    Reykjaneshryggur, Stampar
  21. 3800 BCE (±300 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 3800 – Ongoing
    Reykjaneshryggur
  22. 4000 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 4000 – Ongoing
    Sandfellshaed
  23. 5040 BCE (±90 yrs)VEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 5040 – Ongoing
    Hopsnes
  24. 8000 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 8000 – Ongoing
    Thrainskjöldur

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.