Almost 250 years ago, on June 8, 1783, one of the largest volcanic eruptions in the history of mankind occurred in Vestur-Skaftafellssýsla, when an almost 30 km long fissure opened, spewing gas, fire and sulfur up to about 1000m in the air. When the eruption stopped, and the Haze Hardshipps began, almost a year later, there was a famine in the country, and in fact all over the world, as three quarters of the country’s livestock died. Two other eruptions at the same time, one at Eldey in Reykjanes, the other in Grímsvötn in Vatnajökull did not improve the situation. But today it is beautiful at Lakagígar, as moss has covered the lava, which covers no less than 600 km², which is two thirds of the entire Reykjanes Peninsula, where the volcanic eruptions are happening these days. Lakagígar are a part of the Vatnajökull National Park.
Iceland 02/03/2024 : RX1RII, A7RIII : 2.0/35mm Z, FE 1.4/50mm Z, FE 2.8/90mm G, FE 2.8/100mm GM
Photographs & text: Páll Stefánsson
