WHEN ICELAND DARKENED EUROPE: THE FORGOTTEN CATASTROPHE OF THE LAKI ERUPTION
- Roman Pech
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In the summer of 1783, something appeared over Europe that nobody could explain. The Sun lost its usual brightness. The sky was veiled by a strange haze. People complained of burning eyes, breathing difficulties, and an unusual smell in the air. The fog did not disappear even after rain. At the time, nobody realized that the cause lay more than 2,000 kilometers away — in Iceland.
On 8 June 1783, one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded modern history began. For eight months, lava poured from the Laki fissure system while enormous quantities of sulfur dioxide were released into the atmosphere. Modern research estimates that the eruption emitted approximately 122 million tonnes of SO₂, creating an aerosol veil that lingered over the Northern Hemisphere for more than five months.
When the “Dry Fog” Appeared Over Europe
The first reports of the unusual phenomenon began to emerge in mid-June 1783.
People in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Britain, and other countries described a strange “dry fog.” Unlike ordinary fog, it was not damp and did not dissipate even after heavy rainfall.
Scientists have since reconstructed its spread across Europe almost day by day. The first observations were recorded around 16–18 June 1783, and within only a few days the phenomenon had expanded across much of Western and Central Europe.
Contemporary accounts described a reddish Sun, a sulfurous smell, and unusually weak sunlight.
One observer wrote that the Sun resembled “a glowing coal.”
Others reported that it was possible to look at the solar disc with little discomfort.
Benjamin Franklin Noticed Something Unusual
Among the observers was Benjamin Franklin. In a well-known essay published in 1784, he wrote:
“There existed a constant fog over all Europe.”
Franklin also noted that the Sun’s rays were so weakened that:
“They would scarce kindle brown paper.”
He then proposed a remarkable hypothesis:
“Whether it was the vast quantity of smoke ... from Iceland”
In other words, he wondered whether the cause might be the enormous quantity of smoke originating from Iceland.
Today, we know that he was essentially correct.
Discover Iceland and the Upcoming Total Solar Eclipse on 12 August 2026 HERE
An Eyewitness in Iceland
The most important chronicle of the disaster is Eldrit (“The Book of Fire”) by the Icelandic priest Jón Steingrímsson.
Steingrímsson lived only a few dozen kilometers from the eruption site and documented the catastrophe almost day by day. His account is still considered the most valuable contemporary source on the Laki eruption.
He described a land cracked open by fire, falling ash, dying livestock, and the fear felt by local communities. Steingrímsson understood that he was witnessing something extraordinary. He later wrote:
“En engin lýsing getur jafnast á við sjónina.”
Translated into English:
“No description can compare with what could be seen with one’s own eyes.”
He wrote these words after describing the fiery horizon during the Laki eruption, and they carry a sense of authenticity that few later accounts can match. Thanks to his writings, we can still see the disaster through the eyes of someone who actually experienced it.
Iceland on the Brink of Disaster
For Iceland itself, the consequences were catastrophic.
Poisonous fluorine compounds contaminated the grazing lands. Livestock died by the thousands. A famine known as Móðuharðindin — “The Mist Hardships” — followed.
Approximately one-fifth of Iceland’s population died. At the same time, a large proportion of the country’s sheep, cattle, and horses perished.
When Europe Had No Idea What Was Happening
During the summer of 1783, European newspapers began publishing reports about a mysterious atmospheric phenomenon. At the time, nobody knew that the source was Iceland.
The Gentleman’s Magazine in Britain published eyewitness accounts of an unusual “dry fog” spreading across Britain and other parts of Europe. Observers described a strange haze that persisted for weeks and did not disappear even after rain.
Contemporary records contain remarkable descriptions. According to some observers, the Sun appeared “dull yellow even at noon,” and its light was so weakened that it “cast no shadows.” Others compared the solar disc to “a glowing coal” hanging in the sky.
Today, we know that Europeans were witnessing a vast aerosol cloud produced by the eruption of Iceland’s Laki volcanic system. Millions of tonnes of sulfur dioxide released into the atmosphere created a veil that spread across much of Northern and Western Europe within days.
These historical reports provide a fascinating record of how people observed one of the greatest natural phenomena of their age without knowing its true origin. Only later scientific research revealed that the mysterious “dry fog” was one of the most distant and widespread consequences of the Icelandic eruption.
Thousands of Deaths Across Europe
The effects were not limited to Iceland.
Modern studies using historical mortality records, parish registers, and atmospheric transport models suggest that air pollution led to increased mortality in several European countries. France, Britain, and other regions recorded noticeable spikes in deaths during the summer of 1783.
Contemporary diaries and newspapers repeatedly mentioned:
dry sulfurous fog,
damaged vegetation,
failed harvests,
severe thunderstorms,
health problems among the population.
The Winter Europe Never Forgot
After the strange summer came an exceptionally severe winter in 1783–1784.
Franklin believed that the reduction in sunlight might have contributed to the subsequent cooling.
Modern climatological studies confirm that the eruption significantly affected the climate of the Northern Hemisphere and contributed to a series of extraordinary weather events in the months that followed.
Could It Have Contributed to the French Revolution?
It is sometimes claimed that the Laki eruption caused the French Revolution.
That would be an oversimplification.
However, many historians acknowledge that crop failures, rising food prices, and economic hardship following the eruption may have been among the factors that contributed to growing tensions in France during the following years. Laki did not cause the Revolution.
But it may have helped create conditions in which society became even more vulnerable.
A Disaster Largely Forgotten Today
When Eyjafjallajökull erupted in 2010, it disrupted European air travel for several days.
Laki was different.
It altered the atmosphere of the entire Northern Hemisphere. It brought famine to Iceland, health problems across Europe, crop failures, and one of the strangest skies Europeans had ever witnessed.
And yet, today, very few people have heard of it.
Sources: Jón Steingrímsson – Eldritið (The Book of Fire) – primary historical source
Thordarson & Self (2003) – Atmospheric and Environmental Effects of the 1783–1784 Laki Eruption
About the Author
Iceland has fascinated me for many years. Over the course of numerous journeys across the island, I have driven tens of thousands of kilometers, experienced storms that changed travel plans within minutes, and witnessed days when choosing the right route meant discovering places that most visitors never see. I documented many of these experiences in my documentary film Island in the North.
Through this website, I share practical travel advice, up-to-date information, and firsthand experiences from the field to help others explore Iceland more safely and gain a deeper understanding of its unique landscapes and ever-changing nature.
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