Skaftáreldahraun

The Skaftá-Fires are one of two of the largest lava flows that have occurred on Earth in reocrded history.   The lava flow, which flowed from the Laki vent, fell into two main streams to inhabited areas, on each side of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. For the eight months during the eruption, 12 km³ of basalt lava flowed onto the surface and covered about 565 km² of land or about a half percent of Iceland’s area. Skaftá-Fires lava field is classified as smooth or pāhoehoe lava. There are a number of lava caves in the field. All around thick woolly fringe moss forms a continuous layer which gives off a grey colour when dry, but a beautiful green after rain.