Laki Erupts: Volcanic Haze Starves Europe for Seven Years
The Laki volcanic fissure in southeastern Iceland began erupting on June 8, 1783, and continued for eight months, producing an estimated 14 cubic kilometers of lava and massive quantities of sulfur dioxide and hydrofluoric acid. The volcanic haze drifted across Europe, creating a "dry fog" that dimmed the sun, killed crops, and poisoned livestock. In Iceland, 75% of livestock and 25% of the human population (approximately 9,000 people) died in the resulting famine. In England, the summer of 1783 was the hottest on record, followed by one of the coldest winters. The haze killed an estimated 23,000 people in Britain through respiratory disease. Some historians argue that the agricultural crisis caused by Laki's eruption contributed to the social unrest that preceded the French Revolution of 1789.
June 8, 1783
243 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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