Eldfell

Eldfell rises 205 meters above Heimaey island, featuring dark basalt rocks and a prominent crater at its summit overlooking the North Atlantic Ocean.

The volcano emerged on January 23, 1973, triggering an immediate evacuation of 5,300 residents and destroying 400 houses during its five-month eruption period.

Local residents successfully protected their harbor by spraying seawater on advancing lava flows, demonstrating exceptional community response to natural disasters.

Multiple hiking paths lead to the summit from Kirkjuvegur street, offering different difficulty levels and interpretative signs explaining the geological formations.

The eruption added 2.5 square kilometers of new land to Heimaey island, increasing its size by twenty percent and creating a more effective harbor.

Location: Vestmannaeyjar

Inception: January 23, 1973

Elevation above the sea: 279 m

Made from material: basalt

GPS coordinates: 63.43232,-20.24728

Latest update: May 27, 2025 06:50