Katla

The Hidden Giant Under Ice

1918 Last Major Eruption
750m Ice Thickness Above
300,000 m³/s Flood Volume

About Katla

Iceland's most feared volcano lies hidden beneath Mýrdalsjökull glacier. When Katla erupts, it causes catastrophic glacial floods that can match the flow of the Amazon River.

🌋 Volcanic Power

  • One of Iceland's largest volcanic systems
  • Caldera: 10 km wide
  • Erupts every 40-80 years typically
  • Currently overdue (107 years since major eruption)

🧊 Glacier Coverage

  • Buried under Mýrdalsjökull
  • Ice thickness: up to 750m
  • Glacier area: 590 km²
  • Black ash stripes in ice from eruptions

Eruption Danger

🌊 Jökulhlaup - Glacial Floods

When Katla erupts under the glacier, it melts massive amounts of ice instantly, creating floods with flow rates up to 300,000 m³/s - comparable to the Amazon River. These floods can destroy everything in their path within hours.

Historical Eruptions

  • 1918: 5-week eruption, massive floods
  • 1755: Extended Iceland's coastline by 5km
  • 1625: Killed 100+ people
  • 934 AD: Eldgjá - largest lava flow in history

Warning Signs

  • Earthquake swarms under glacier
  • Glacial floods without eruption
  • Increased geothermal activity
  • GPS shows ground deformation

24/7 Monitoring

Katla is one of the world's most closely monitored volcanoes due to its extreme danger.

📡 Monitoring Systems

  • 20+ seismometers around volcano
  • GPS stations track ground movement
  • River monitoring for flood detection
  • Gas emission measurements

🚨 Emergency Plans

  • Automated alert systems
  • Evacuation routes established
  • 30-minute evacuation window
  • Regular evacuation drills

Katla Ice Cave

A unique year-round ice cave featuring dramatic black ice formed from layers of volcanic ash.

Cave Features

  • Black and blue striped ice walls
  • Formed by geothermal heat from volcano
  • Accessible year-round (unlike glacier caves)
  • Dragon glass appearance from ash

Tour Information

  • Access: Super jeep required
  • Duration: 3-4 hour tours
  • Departure: From Vík
  • Season: Year-round access

Location