The Garden of Learning

Science

Which Icelandic volcano's 1783 eruption poisoned Europe's skies?

  • Laki
  • Hekla
  • Katla

The answer is Laki. Famine followed across the continent.

Laki

Laki or Lakagígar is a volcanic fissure in the western part of Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland, not far from the volcanic fissure of Eldgjá and the small village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. The fissure is properly referred to as Lakagígar, while Laki is a mountain that the fissure bisects. Lakagígar is part of a volcanic system centered on the volcano Grímsvötn, including the volcano Þórðarhyrna. It lies between the glaciers of Mýrdalsjökull and Vatnajökull, in an area of fissures that run in a southwest to northeast direction.

Wikipedia · Laki