Today, volcanic eruptions are spectator sports…whee!
 

The volume of lava poured out by Bardarbunga volcano’s ongoing eruption just surpassed that of all other effusive eruptions in Iceland since the eruption of Laki Volcano in 1783-1784. Bardarbunga is tiny in comparison to Laki, though.

It’s difficult for us to understand just how huge and how devastating that eruption was for Iceland and the rest of the world.

Fortunately, we aren’t facing the same risk today from Bardarbunga.

Here are two short videos the BBC posted from its Timewatch episode on Laki. Check out this source for more details on that eruption, too.