Eldhraun Lava Field
Eldhraun
A vast lava field formed by the 1783 Laki eruption, covered in thick grey-green moss, with Route 1 running straight across it.
The Eldhraun lava field was formed by the 1783–1784 Laki fissure eruption. It is one of the largest lava flows in recorded history, covering about 565 square kilometers. The famine that followed the eruption killed roughly one-fifth of Iceland's population. Today the lava is covered with tens of centimeters of moss, as soft as a carpet. The moss is extremely fragile, and once trampled it can take decades to recover, so please view it only from roadside pullouts and designated trails. The field lies along Route 1, west of Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
- Systrafoss & Kirkjubæjarklaustur
- Kirkjugólf
- Laufskálavarða
- Hjörleifshöfði & Yoda Cave
- Katla Ice Cave (Kötlujökull)
- Vík í Mýrdal & Víkurkirkja
- Icelandic Lava Show