No latest activity reported for Krafla.

Below is a summary of eruption dates and Volcanic Explosivity Indices (VEI).

The following references are the sources used for data regarding this volcano. References are linked directly to our volcano data file. Discussion of another volcano or eruption (sometimes far from the one that is the subject of the manuscript) may produce a citation that is not at all apparent from the title. Additional discussion of data sources can be found under Volcano Data Criteria.

Bjornsson A, Saemundsson K, Einarsson P, Tryggvason E, Gronvold K, 1977. Current rifting episode in North Iceland. {Nature}, 266: 318-323

Calderone G M, Gronvold K, Oskarsson N, 1990. The welded air-fall tuff layer at Krafla, northern Iceland: a composite eruption triggered by injection of basaltic magma. {J Volc Geotherm Res}, 44: 303-314

Eliasson S, 1979. Kerlingarholar, old eruptive fissures on the Krafla fault swarm. {Natturufraedingurinn}, 49: 51-63 (in Icelandic with English summary)

Gronvold K, 1984. Myvatn fires 1724-1729, chemical composition of the lava. {Nordic Volc Inst Univ Iceland}, no 8401, 24p

Gudmundsson A T, 1986b. {Iceland-Fires}. Reykjavik: Vaka-Helgafell, 168 p

IAVCEI, 1973-80. Post-Miocene Volcanoes of the World. {IAVCEI Data Sheets, Rome: Internatl Assoc Volc Chemistry Earth's Interior}.

Johannesson H, Saemundsson K, 1998. Geological map of Iceland, 1:500,000. Tectonics. {Icelandic Inst Nat Hist, Reykjavik}

Jonasson K, 1994. Rhyolite volcanism in the Krafla central volcano, north-east Iceland. {Bull Volc}, 56: 516-528

Jonasson K, 2005. Magmatic evolution of the Heidarspordur ridge, NE-Iceland. {J Volc Geotherm Res}, 147: 109-124

Newhall C G, Dzurisin D, 1988. Historical unrest at large calderas of the world. {U S Geol Surv Bull}, 1855: 1108 p, 2 vol

Saemundsson K, 1982. Excursion guide and road log for field trips A and B. {IAVCEI/IAGC 1982 Sci Assembly, Reykjavik, Generation of Major Basalt Types}

Saemundsson K, 1991. The geology of the Krafla area. {In}: Gardarsson A and Einarsson A (eds) {Natural History of Lake Myvatn}, Reykjavik: Hid Islenska Natturufraedifelag, p 25-95 (in Icelandic)

Steinthorsson S, et al., 2002. {Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World - Iceland}. {Unpublished manuscript}

Thorarinsson S, 1979. The postglacial history of the Myvatn area. {Oikos}, 32: 17-28

Thordarson T, Hoskuldsson A, 2008. Postglacial eruptions in Iceland. {Jokull}, 58: 197-228

Tuffen H, Castro J M, 2009. The emplacement of an obsidian dyke through thin ice: Hraftntinnuhryggur, Krafla Iceland. {J Volc Geotherm Res}, 185: 352-366

The Krafla central volcano, located NE of Myvatn lake, is a topographically indistinct 10-km-wide caldera that is cut by a N-S-trending fissure system. Eruption of a rhyolitic welded tuff about 100,000 years ago was associated with formation of the caldera. Krafla has been the source of many rifting and eruptive events during the Holocene, including two in historical time, during 1724-29 and 1975-84. The prominent Hverfjall and Ludent tuff rings east of Myvatn were erupted along the 100-km-long fissure system, which extends as far as the north coast of Iceland. Iceland's renowned Myvatn lake formed during the eruption of the older Laxarhraun lava flow from the Ketildyngja shield volcano of the Fremrinamur volcanic system about 3800 years before present (BP); its present shape is constrained by the roughly 2000 years BP younger Laxarhraun lava flow from the Krafla volcanic system. The abundant pseudocraters that form a prominent part of the Myvatn landscape were created when the younger Laxarhraun lava flow entered the lake.