Iceland is only about the size of Kentucky, but there are more volcanoes in Iceland than in nations many times as large. There are 107 volcanoes in this island nation, and 25 of them have erupted during historic times. One Iceland volcano, Mount Hekla, has erupted more than 20 times since the first settlers reached Iceland!
Thousands of volcanic craters dot the landscape of Iceland, and lava streams cover more than 4,500 square miles. One lava bed, known as the “Lava of Evil Deeds,” covers an area of 1,300 square miles.
The volcanic mountains of Iceland are often covered with ice and snow. Volcanic eruptions melt the ice, sometimes producing damaging floods. But the volcanoes of Iceland do offer the people of that land one benefit.
Because of the volcanic activity, there are hot springs almost everywhere in Iceland. Many farmers heat their homes with hot water piped in directly from natural hot springs!
