Volcanism of Iceland

Iceland experiences frequent volcanic activity, due to its location both on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a divergent tectonic plate boundary, and being over a hotspot. Most of the volcanoes of Iceland can be grouped by their relationship to volcanic rift zones.

Nearly thirty volcanoes are known to have erupted in the Holocene epoch; these include Eldgjá, source of the largest lava eruption in human history. Some of the various eruptions of lava, gas and ash have been both destructive of property and deadly to life over the years, as well as disruptive to local, European, and international air travel. The deadliest volcanic eruption in Iceland's history is Laki, which occurred in 1783–1784.