This was bad, but compared to previous eruptions, 1991 was just a baby.

Local natives, the Carib people, knew it as "fire mountain" from previous eruptions in ancient times.

The last eruption of Grímsvötn was in 2004, with the previous most powerful eruptions in 1783, 1873 and 1902.

Although the early colonists were made aware that it was a volcano, previous eruptions in 1792 and 1851 had been minor.

A previous eruption began in August 2006 and ended in January 2007.

The next previous eruption was in or after 400 BCE.

Samples from early in this eruption have the isotopic signature of previous large eruptions.

Volcano ash chaos: previous eruption 'lasted more than a year'

The previous major eruption recorded was on 18 February 2003.

The most recent previous eruption had been in 1904.