Katla

when a large and very active strato volcano is situated underneath a glacierit we can expect dramatic events. There have been many large phreatic eruptions in Historic time with accompanying catastrophic floods, which have added new material to the Mýrdalssandur.

You can also look at a geology map and further comment

or something lighter?

Katla and Katla - the volcano and the witch

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The last definite eruption of Katla was in 1918 when it erupted for almost a month and much of the black sand which the main coastal road crosses is from this time. A possible small eruption occurred in 1955. The general view is that this central volcano is topped by a caldera, the rim of which which can be seen in the accompanying photograph. The photograph below is taken from the sea looking northwards and is a composite of two images. (hence a slight innaccuracy in the centre). The town of Vík can just be seen to the left.