Reykjanes Lava Fountain Cam

A Close View of Erupting Lava Fountains

This camera frames the incandescent curtain of lava fountains jetting from the Sundhnúksgígar fissure row, just north of Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Molten basalt is thrown tens of metres into the air along the active vent before feeding glowing rivers of lava that spread across the surrounding plain.

The Sundhnúksgígar Fissure System

The Sundhnúksgígar crater row sits within the wider Reykjanes volcanic zone, where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rises above sea level and the North American and Eurasian plates pull apart. Eruptions here are effusive and fissure-driven, opening long cracks that release fast-moving fluid lava rather than the explosive ash columns of steeper stratovolcanoes.

A Reawakened Volcanic Region

After roughly eight centuries of dormancy, the Reykjanes Peninsula entered a new period of frequent eruptions, drawing scientists and onlookers worldwide. The peninsula's accessibility, close to Keflavík and the Icelandic capital region, makes it one of the most closely watched eruptive areas on the planet.

What to Watch For

Depending on activity, viewers may see pulsing lava fountains, advancing lava flows, and shifting steam and gas plumes against the stark volcanic landscape. The scene changes constantly with the eruption's rhythm, the weather, and the long Icelandic twilight.