Katla

Katla volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in Iceland and is underneath Mýrdalsjökull glacier. The caldera of Katla is about 100 km² but the volcanic system of Katla is much larger, or about 110 km long and 30 km in width, extending to the north-east in the direction of Vatnajökull glacier. Katla has erupted at least 20 times since settlement (874 A.D.) and many of them have caused large glacial outburst floods, with a discharge of up to 100.000-300.000 m³/s, and heavy ash fall. The last confirmed eruption in Katla was in 1918, but there might have been three small eruptions since then in 1955, 1999 and 2011. Eruptions in Katla melts about 5-10% of Mýrdalsjökull glacier and it takes the glacier a few decades to recover after each eruption.