Japan Volcano AlertsHome › World volcanoes › Iceland
Hekla: eruption history
Elevation1,490 m
TypeStratovolcano
Confirmed eruptions65#3 of 35 in country
Latest eruption2000-02-26
Largest VEI5
Location63.98, -19.67
Eruptions per century (since 1500)
3
2
2
2
6
1
By VEI
1
5
8
10
5
Eruptions (latest first, up to 60)
| Start | VEI | End | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-02-26 | 3 | 2000 | SW flank |
| 1991-01-17 | 3 | 1991 | Summit, SW, SE & NE flank fissures |
| 1981-04-09 | 2 | 1981 | Summit and north flank (900 and 740 m) |
| 1980-08-17 | 3 | 1980 | Summit, SW and NE flanks |
| 1970-05-05 | 3 | 1970 | Sudurgigar, Hlidargigar, Oldugigar |
| 1947-03-29 | 4 | 1948 | Hraungigur, Axlargigur, Toppgigur |
| 1913-04-25 | 2 | 1913 | E & NE of Hekla (Mundafit, Lambafit) |
| 1878-02-27 | 2 | 1878 | East of Hekla (Krakagigar) |
| 1845-09-02 | 4 | 1846 | Summit, SW and NE flanks |
| 1766-04-05 | 4 | 1768 | Bjallagigar |
| 1725-04-02 | 1 | – | SW, south and east of Hekla |
| 1693-02-13 | 4 | 1693 | |
| 1636-05-08 | 3 | 1637 | |
| 1597-01-03 | 4 | 1597 | |
| 1554-05 | 2 | 1554 | SW of Hekla (Raudubjallar) |
| 1510-07-25 | 4 | – | |
| 1440 | – | – | SE of Hekla |
| 1389-12-01 | 3 | 1390 | Summit ridge, west flank (Raudoldur) |
| 1341-05-19 | 3 | – | |
| 1300-07-11 | 4 | 1301 | |
| 1222 | 2 | – | |
| 1206-12-04 | 3 | – | |
| 1158-01-19 | 4 | – | |
| 1104-10-15 | 5 | – | |
| 1050 | – | – | Austurhraun |
| 800 | – | – | Heklutaglahraun |
| 750 | – | – | Taglgigahraun, Solvahraun, Stakahraun |
| 650 | – | – | NE flank (Helliskvislarhraun) |
| 550 | – | – | |
| 350 | – | – | Vatnafjöll (Eskihlidarhraun) |
| 250 | – | – | NE flank (Hestolduhraun), Vatnafjöll |
| 150 BCE | – | – | Vatnafjöll (Kringluhraun) |
| 250 BCE | – | – | NE flank, Vatnafjöll (Langviuhraun) |
| 650 BCE | – | – | Vatnafjöll (Svalaskardshraun) |
| 750 BCE | – | – | NE flank, Vatnafjöll (Langviuhraun) |
| 850 BCE | – | – | NE flank (Raudkembingahraun), Vatnafjöll |
| 1100 BCE | 5 | – | |
| 1150 BCE | – | – | Vatnafjöll (Hraunhalsshraun) |
| 1250 BCE | – | – | NE flank, Vatnafjöll |
| 1350 BCE | – | – | Vatnafjöll |
| 1550 BCE | 4 | – | |
| 1650 BCE | – | – | Vatnafjöll |
| 1750 BCE | – | – | |
| 1850 BCE | – | – | NE flank (Krokagilsoduhraun), Vatnafjöll |
| 2310 BCE | 5 | – | |
| 2450 BCE | – | – | Vatnafjöll (Reynnisfellshraun) |
| 2750 BCE | – | – | Vatnafjöll |
| 2950 BCE | – | – | Vatnafjöll (Tröllaskógahraun) |
| 3350 BCE | – | – | Raudkollar, Vatnafjöll (Grafellshraun) |
| 3450 BCE | – | – | Vatnafjöll |
| 3750 BCE | – | – | Vatnafjöll |
| 3950 BCE | – | – | Axarhraun, Vatnafjöll |
| 4050 BCE | – | – | Baejarhraun |
| 4110 BCE | 5 | – | |
| 4150 BCE | – | – | Vatnafjöll (Grasleysisfjallahraun) |
| 4250 BCE | – | – | Knafaholdahraun |
| 4350 BCE | – | – | Vatnafjöll (Lambadalshraun) |
| 4550 BCE | – | – | Krokahraun, Vatnafjöll |
| 4650 BCE | – | – | Gunnarsholtshraun |
| 4700 BCE | 4 | – |
Nearby volcanoes
| Volcano | Distance | Eruptions |
|---|---|---|
| Tindfjallajokull | 22 km | 0 |
| Torfajokull | 28 km | 10 |
| Eyjafjallajokull | 39 km | 5 |
| Katla | 48 km | 128 |
| Grimsnes | 60 km | 11 |
| Vestmannaeyjar | 70 km | 10 |
| Hromundartindur | 82 km | 0 |
| Prestahnukur | 82 km | 3 |
Eruption records from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program; older eruptions may be missing. VEI = Volcanic Explosivity Index (0–8). For current alerts, check the official agency.