Bardarbunga Volcano

Updated: Mar 25, 2025 11:35 GMT - refresh

Stratovolcano

Central Iceland, 64.63°N / -17.53°W

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Summit height: approx. 2000 m / ca. 6,560 ft

Current status: minor activity or eruption warning (3 out of 5)

Last update: 22 Jan 2025 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)

Lava fountains from the Holuhraun fissure eruption August 2014

Bardarbunga (Bárðarbunga) is a large central volcano lying underneath Iceland's 500-m thick Vatnajokull glacier in the center of the country. It is located at the junction between the eastern and northern volcanic rift zones in the area where the present-day center of the mantle hot spot beneath Iceland is thought to be.
Bardarbunga has had about 300-400 eruptions during the past 10,000 years which includes only 23 eruptions historic times (approx the past 1000 years), i.e. it seems to erupt currently at rates of approx. twice per century, the last one having occurred in 1910. A massive explosive-effusive eruption (VEI 6) in 1477 resulted in a large ash and pumice fall-out deposit.
Approx 8600 years ago, Bardarbunga produced the largest known lava flow during the past 10,000 years on earth (more than 21 cubic kilometers of volume). The lava was erupted from the Veidivötn fissure system and traveled more than 100 km to the south coast.

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Bardarbunga webcams / live data | News/Updates | Earthquakes | Images

Typical eruption style: Large effusive eruptions, some explosive activity.
Bardarbunga volcano eruptions: 1080(?), 1159(?), ca. 1210, ca. 1270, ca. 1350, ca. 1410(?), 1477 (very large effusive-explosive eruption), 1697, 1702, 1706, 1712, 1716, 1717, 1720, 1726, 1729, 1739, 1750, 1766, 1769, 1797, 1807(?), 1862-64, 1872(?), 1902-03, 1910, 2014-15 (Holuhraun fissure eruption)

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location
Mar 25, 03:11 am (Universal Time)	1.1 8.9 km	14 km (8.9 mi) to the S	9.7 km ENE of Hamarinn	Info
Monday, March 24, 2025 GMT (2 quakes)
Mar 24, 12:54 pm (Reykjavik)	0.2 5 km	3.1 km (2 mi) to the N	Iceland: 2.0 km N of Bárðarbunga	Info
Mar 24, 01:18 am (Reykjavik)	0.7 4.7 km	5.2 km (3.2 mi) to the N	Iceland: 4.0 km N of Bárðarbunga	Info
Sunday, March 23, 2025 GMT (2 quakes)
Mar 23, 08:23 pm (Reykjavik)	1.4 7.5 km	30 km (18 mi) to the S	Iceland: 6.4 km SW of Grímsfjall	Info
Mar 23, 02:01 pm (Universal Time)	1.2 3.1 km	14 km (8.5 mi) to the S	13.3 km E of Hamarinn	Info
Saturday, March 22, 2025 GMT (2 quakes)
Mar 22, 09:41 pm (Universal Time)	0.6 13 km	28 km (17 mi) to the S	4.8 km WSW of Grímsfjall	Info
Mar 22, 07:22 pm (Universal Time)	1.7 8 km	22 km (14 mi) to the SE	5.4 km NNW of Grímsfjall	Info
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 GMT (2 quakes)
Mar 19, 08:21 am (Reykjavik)	4.2 4.7 km	4.7 km (2.9 mi) to the E	Iceland I FELT IT	Info
Mar 19, 08:06 am (Universal Time)	2.9 4 km	6.5 km (4 mi) to the E	223 km east of Reykjavik, Capital, Iceland I FELT IT	Info

View recent quakes

Background

The volcano is hidden beneath the northwestern part of the Vatnajökull glacier, and contains a 700-m-deep caldera that is hidden beneath ice and has extensive flank fissures, from where eruptions have taken place: the Veidivötn fissure extends for over 100 km to the SW, almost reaching Torfajökull volcano, while the Trollagigar fissure extends 50 km to the NE touching Askja volcano.

A major risk from Bárdarbunga are jökulhlaups (glacier-outburst floods), that can be hazardous for areas in all directions around Bárdarbunga.

Bardarbunga Volcano Photos

Lava fountain and lava flows from the Holuhraun fissure eruption on Iceland, Sep 2014 (Bardarbunga volcano) (Photo: Lukas Gawenda)

Multiple lava fountain from the Holuhraun fissure eruption on Iceland in Sep 2014 (Bardarbunga volcano) (Photo: Lukas Gawenda)

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Fissue eruption out of airplane from Bardarbunga eruption in Holuhraun area. (Photo: AndreasIrgang)

Lava fountains from the main vents at the Holuhraun fissure eruption (Bardarbunga volcano, Iceland) on 13 Sep 2014 (Photo: MartinHensch)

More photos

Significant volcanic eruptions: Bardarbunga volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Bardarbunga has had at least 44 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 13 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 11 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Bardarbunga volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Bardarbunga volcano since around 1700. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Bardarbunga can be found on the news page of Bardarbunga volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Damage
2014 Aug 29 - 2015 Feb 27	Holuhraun vent, 45 km NE Historical obs./docs.	0
?? 2008 Aug 16 ±15 d.	Uncertain Eruption	?
?? 2006 Apr 16 ±15 d.	Uncertain Eruption	?
?? 2005 Jul 16 ±15 d. - Aug 16 ±15 d.	Uncertain Eruption	?
?? 2002 Jul 16 ±15 d. - Sep 16 ±15 d.	Uncertain Eruption	?
?? 2000 Aug 16 ±15 d.	Uncertain Eruption	?
?? 1997 Aug 16 ±15 d.	Uncertain Eruption	?
?? 1996 Aug 16 ±15 d.	Uncertain Eruption	?
?? 1995 Jul 16 ±15 d.	Uncertain Eruption	?
?? 1991 Aug 12	Uncertain Eruption	?
?? 1986 Nov 29 - Dec 1 ?	Uncertain Eruption	?
1910 Jun 18 - Oct	Loki-Fögrufjöll (East Loki cauldron) Historical obs./docs.	2
1902 Dec - 1903 Jun	Volcano Uncertain: Dyngjuhals ?	2?
1872 ?	Volcano Uncertain: Dyngjuhals ?	?
1862 Jun 30 - 1864 Oct 15 ±45 d.	Trollagigar Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 1807	Uncertain Eruption	?
1797	Volcano Uncertain	?
1794	Historical obs./docs.	?
1769	Volcano Uncertain: Bárdarbunga or Grímsvötn	2
1766 Jul	Historical obs./docs.	2
1750 ±10 y.		?
1739		2
1729 Feb 1 (eruption 1729)	Historical obs./docs.	1	light	Info
1729 Feb 1: Damage to land and property. Cited references #2379 Siebert, L, Simkin T (2002-): Volcanoes of the World: an Illustrated Catalog of Holocene Volcanoes and their Eruptions. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-3, (http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/) Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1729	Volcano Uncertain: Dyngjuhals ?	1
1726 Feb 1 ±30 d. - May 1 ±30 d.	Dyngjujökull, Dyngjuhal ? Historical obs./docs.	1?
1726 Feb 1 (eruption 1726 Feb 1 ±30 d. - May 1 ±30 d.)	Historical obs./docs.	1	light	Info
1726 Feb 1: Damage to land and property. Cited references #2379 Siebert, L, Simkin T (2002-): Volcanoes of the World: an Illustrated Catalog of Holocene Volcanoes and their Eruptions. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-3, (http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/) Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1720		2
1717 Aug 4 - Sep 17 or later	Historical obs./docs.	3?
1717 Aug 4 (eruption 1717 Aug 4 - Sep 17 or later)	Historical obs./docs.	3	light	Info
1717 Aug 4: Damage to land and property. Cited references #2379 Siebert, L, Simkin T (2002-): Volcanoes of the World: an Illustrated Catalog of Holocene Volcanoes and their Eruptions. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-3, (http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/) Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1716 Oct 5 ±4 d.	Historical obs./docs.	2
1716 Oct 5 (eruption 1716 Oct 5 ±4 d.)	Historical obs./docs.	2	light	Info
1716 Oct 5: Damage to land and property. Cited references #2379 Siebert, L, Simkin T (2002-): Volcanoes of the World: an Illustrated Catalog of Holocene Volcanoes and their Eruptions. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-3, (http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/) Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1712 Jan 15 ±45 d.	Historical obs./docs.	2
1712 Jan 15 (eruption 1712 Jan 15 ±45 d.)	Historical obs./docs.	2	light	Info
1712 Jan 15: Damage to land and property. Cited references #2379 Siebert, L, Simkin T (2002-): Volcanoes of the World: an Illustrated Catalog of Holocene Volcanoes and their Eruptions. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-3, (http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/) Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1707	Historical obs./docs.	2
1706	Historical obs./docs.	2
1702	Volcano Uncertain: Dyngjuhals ?	2

Remark:

Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution

Bardarbunga Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Bardarbunga volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Bardarbunga occurred during 2014 - 2015.

+How often does Bardarbunga volcano erupt?

Since 1159 AD, Bardarbunga volcano has had at least 13 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 67 years.
Many eruptions of Bardarbunga have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 16 out of 866 years until now. In other words, Bardarbunga has been active at least one in 54.1 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Bardarbunga is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.

+How active is Bardarbunga volcano at present?

Bardarbunga volcano is occasionally active: Since 1900, it has had 3 eruptions, and been active during 3 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Bardarbunga has been in eruption one in 42 years on average. The last eruption was from 2014 until 2015 and ended 10 years ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Bardarbunga volcano?

The largest eruption of Bardarbunga volcano in historic times occurred in 1477 AD. It ranks as a plinian eruption with a magnitude 6 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale. Eruption of this size are often catastrophic on a regional scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Bardarbunga Volcano Maps

Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).