Why Is Iceland Erupting Now? A New Volcanic Era Explained

If it feels like Iceland is in the news every other week for a new eruption, you’re not imagining things. Since 2021, the Reykjanes Peninsula—home to the main airport and the Blue Lagoon—has ignited with a ferocity not seen in lifetimes.

But why now? Why did this specific patch of land stay quiet for 800 years, only to wake up and start splitting apart? The answer lies in the deep rhythm of the Earth’s plates.

The 800-Year Cycle

Geologists calling this the “New Reykjanes Fires” aren’t just using dramatic language. They are referring to a historical pattern. The Reykjanes Peninsula works on a clock.

Active Period: 200–400 years of frequent eruptions.
Dormant Period: ~800 years of relative silence.

The last active period (the “Reykjanes Fires”) began around 950 AD and ended in 1240 AD. Since then, the peninsula has been sleepy. The tectonic stress between the North American and Eurasian plates has been building up silently, like a rubber band being stretched for eight centuries. In 2021, with the eruption at Fagradalsfjall, that rubber band snapped.

The Tectonic Split

Iceland sits directly on top of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the seam where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates drift apart. Every year, these plates move about 2 centimeters away from each other. Over 800 years, that adds up to about 16 meters of stretching. Eventually, the crust can’t stretch any more. It breaks. Magma from the mantle rushes up to fill the void. This isn’t just one volcano erupting; it’s a “rifting episode.” The entire peninsula is literally tearing itself apart to create new land.

Why This Time is Different

For most of the 20th century, Iceland’s eruptions happened in remote highlands or under glaciers (like Eyjafjallajökull). The Reykjanes Peninsula is different because:

Location: It’s the most populated part of Iceland.
Style: These are fissure eruptions. There is no single “mountain” to watch. The ground just unzips.
Infrastructure: Power plants, the Blue Lagoon tourism hub, the fishing town of Grindavík, and Keflavík International Airport are all in the line of fire.

What to Expect in 2026 and Beyond

Scientists anticipate this new era could last for decades or even centuries. We shouldn’t expect a single massive explosion that destroys the island. Instead, the pattern will likely be:

Intense Earthquake Swarms: Signaling magma movement.
Short Eruptions: Lasting weeks or months.
Lull Periods: Quiet for months or a year.
Repeat.

The destruction of parts of Grindavík in 2024 was tragical but geologically expected. The “Fires” have returned, and Icelanders are once again learning to live on a land that is being born beneath their feet.

Conclusion: The Earth is not static. We are witnessing geology in real-time. For travelers, it is a reminder that Iceland is one of the most dynamic and powerful places on the planet—a beauty that demands respect.