Lakagígar

Lakagígar, meaning Laki Craters, is a volcanic crater row (fissure) in Iceland. It lies in the southern part of the country and forms part of the Laki fissure, linked to the Grímsvötn volcanic system. The crater chain runs for about 27 kilometers and comprises roughly 140 individual craters along the fissure, created by a major fissure eruption.

The Lakagígar eruption began in June 1783 and lasted until February 1784, a period of about eight months. It produced extensive lava flows that formed the Skaftáreldahraun lava field and released large volumes of volcanic gases, especially sulfur dioxide and fluorine compounds. The persistent gas emissions created a widespread haze and acid fog that affected Icelandic agriculture and livestock, with lasting ecological and economic impacts.

In Iceland, the eruption caused severe crop failures and fluorine poisoning among grazing animals, leading to famine and hardship for local communities. The event also had broader climatic effects: sulfur aerosols dimmed sunlight and contributed to cooler temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere for several years, with adverse harvests reported in parts of Europe and North America.

Today Lakagígar is recognized as a protected geological site and a destination for researchers and visitors interested in volcanic history. The crater row is a prominent example of a fissure eruption and its wide-ranging environmental consequences. The site is associated with the surrounding volcanic landscape of southern Iceland and remains a key reference point in the study of large basaltic eruptions and their climatic and ecological impacts.