Laki Mountain
Laki Mountain
Duration: 1.5 hours. Difficulty: a steady ascent and descent of around 200m. The path is stony. Interest: great views of the chain of craters which formed in 1783 during Iceland’s most powerful eruption since the settlement. Start/End: from the car park at the foot of Laki Mountain.
From the car park the trail is clearly visible, snaking up the peak of Laki. The mountain was formed during the Ice Age in a sub-glacial eruption. As you gain height, you will start to see more and more craters, numbering around 100, along a 25km fissure.
At the height of the eruption, it is estimated that the lava flow exceeded 6000 cubic metres per second. The lava you see around you is only a small part of the total flow, most of which spread out on the plain east and west of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. As you climb, look for the impressive fissures on the mountain itself. Once you reach the summit, enjoy the views before descending by the same route.