Lakagígar
The Lakagígar craters were formed in one of the world's largest mixed eruptions in recorded history. Now referred to as the Fires of the River Skaftá, this continuous series of eruptions emitted a vast quantity of lava and substantial amounts of volcanic ash from a fissure stretching 25 km across the area west of the ice cap.
The first eruption began on 8 June 1783 at the south-west end of the fissure. Lava flowed across the flat land destroying a large number of farms, stopping just outside the small town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur on 20 July. The north-east part of the fissure then erupted. From 29 July until well into October, lava flowed along the course of the River Hverfisfljót and across the countryside on both banks. Although volcanic activity then began to subside, the eruption was not finally over until February 1784.
The largest crater in the row is a small tuff mountain called Laki, which stands in the middle of the fissure. The total area of the resulting lava field is 565 km2 and the estimated volume of volcanic material is over 12 km3.
Devastating effects at home and abroad
Ash from the eruption reached all the way to Europe and beyond. Its poisonous nature caused famine across Iceland. Up to 53% of cattle, 82% of sheep and 77% of horses were killed due to poisoning or lack of pasture. The population of Iceland fell by 20% (10,000) as a result of the famine between the years 1783 and 1786. Crop failure, disease and disasters in Europe following the eruption have been traced to the airborne haze (for the most part tiny droplets of acid and ash dust) which led to a drop in overall temperatures. It may well be argued that the eruption in Iceland was one of the causes of the French Revolution in 1789.
After the Lakagígar eruption, the Danish colonial authorities considered transporting the remaining 40,000 Icelanders to the Jutland heaths in Denmark. Thankfully, their plans were never followed through.
The majority of the craters are now covered in racomitrium moss, and the area has some of the most stunningly attractive landscapes in Iceland. Guided tours visit Lakagígar during the summer months (information at Kirkjubæjarklaustur, see also www.bsi.is).
Changes to facilities, paths and roads
Proposals now under consideration (2008) call for additional facilities in the western part of the National Park. They include a new area for cabins at Galti where there will be an information centre and toilet facilities, and changed at Blágil, which will become a mountain outpost with a campsite and facilities for park rangers.
The hikers' crossing over the River Skaftá, a cable-borne platform south of Mt Sveinstindur, will be moved south where a footbridge will connect hiking trails to the west of the river. The trail will be moved away from the sensitive area near Kambar.
A circular route for vehicles will be completed in the area so that people can drive up onto high ground west of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, and return to the east of the town using the Miklafell road, which will be rerouted to connect to the Laki road at Galti. The current tracks will be improved and reclassified as a mountain road.
The track running up to the shoulder of Blængur through narrow and difficult gullies, partly within the protected area, will be closed.