The Laki volcanic system in Iceland is well known because of a large volcanic eruption in 1783-1784 with a large lava flow called Eldhraun. The eruption was from a 25 kilometers long fissure up in the highlands between Vatnajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers. The system erupted violently over an eight-month period between June 1783 and February 1784 from the Laki fissure pouring out an estimated 42 billion tons or 14 km3 (3.4 cu mi) of basalt lava and clouds of poisonous hydrofluoric acid and sulfur dioxide compounds that contaminated the soil, leading to the death of over 50% of Iceland's livestock population, and the destruction of the vast majority of all crops. This led to a famine which then killed approximately 25% of the island's human population

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