Comments on: Climate Change Back in the 18th Century? 6 Devastating Effects of Laki

By: Hareesh

Hareesh — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:46:00 +0000

Ha Ha! The funny thing is that my sister’s name is Lakshmi, but we call her Laki at home.

By: Senor Pescado

Senor Pescado — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 20:45:00 +0000

2012, is coming, NASA scientists already getting sun polarity anomalies

these minor events are nada compared to 60 milion years ago, and most recently 5000 BC give or take a few years

good luck,
I will be in my cave in El Salvador, chained to the floor

By: Dawn

Dawn — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:23:00 +0000

Incredible article!

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:53:00 +0000

Good article about a little known tragic event. And to speak as to why it’s not widely taught…simply put it happened in Iceland…though it did have devastating effects around the world, Scandinavian history, geography, geology, anthropology and so for forth are often glanced over if even taught in American schools. It wasn’t until I learned I was Icelandic and Swedish in origin till I started doing my own research about Scandinavia.

By: Ophelia

Ophelia — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:13:00 +0000

Fantastic post! My thesis in graduate school was on a correlation between ecological history and human psychiatry during said era, and I am very familiar with this occurance. I had forgotten some of the statistics of this occurance, so it was neat reading them again! Thanks so much!

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:59:00 +0000

Great Article. I am currently go to an environmental college, and I find information like this amazing. Good job in keeping everything short, factual, and to the point.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:56:00 +0000

Really interesting article. Thanks for writing it. I agree with previous people who question why this was never taught to us in school. It’s fascinating, and impacted so many people. I would have much rather learned about this kind of thing in school than about wars. Keep up the great work, mental_floss — this is why I love this website.

By: 8rustystaples

8rustystaples — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:46:00 +0000

For another fascinating account of a cataclysmic volcano eruption, read Simon Winchester’s “Krakatoa, The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883.” That eruption was 100 years after Laki, and even more devastating. The sound of the Krakatoa eruption was noted as being heard over 3000 miles away…that’s like Mt. Saint Helens being heard on the east coast.

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:26:00 +0000

Great article, David. As EM noted, one is left to wonder why these cataclysmic events don’t seem to register on our world history radar.

I suspect your transcription software inserted “their” where you meant “they’re” in the first line.

Anyway, keep them coming. Good stuff.

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:23:00 +0000

Fascinating. Thanks for the education!