Located underneath Myrdalsjokull glacier in South Iceland, Katla volcano is highly active and long overdue. Since 1721, it has erupted five times at 34-78 year intervals, but it hasn’t erupted since 1918.
Katla is one of the largest volcanoes in Iceland, situated to the north of the village Vík in Mýrdal valley and to the east of the smaller glacier Eyjafjallajökull. Its peak reaches 1,512 metres (4,961 ft) and partially covered by the Mýrdalsjökull glacier. The system has an area of 595 km2 (230 sq mi). The Eldgjá canyon is part of the same volcanic system.
The caldera of the volcano is 10 km (6.2 mi) in diameter and covered with 200–700 metres (660–2,300 ft) thick ice. The volcano normally erupts every 40–80 years and the volcano is long overdue. When the volcano Eyjafjallajokull erupted former president Olafur Ragnar Grimsson said, that in comparison with Katla, you ain’t seen nothing yet! Katla is a powerful volcano, no doubt, and a large eruption could have catastrophic effect.
Check out our complete guide to the South Coast.
