I have been going on and on for my love for Vestmannaeyjar these past few weeks, but there is still one thing I have yet to tell you guys about our trip.
We hiked up a volcano!
You never know what a day in Iceland will bring your way, things like hiking around neighborhoods now under lava fields and climbing to the top of a volcano that erupted in 1973. Just another day in Island, or more specifically, Vestmannaeyjar.
Let’s back up and talk more about this volcano.
Eldfell is a composite volcanic cone that is 200 meters tall on the island of Heimaey in Vestmannaeyjar. Eldfell wasn’t always on the island though, it was formed in a volcanic eruption in 1973.
In the early morning hours of January 23, 1973, without warning, a volcanic eruption began on the island. This eruption caused an emergency evacuation for the entire island, and it would be over a year before many of the island inhabitants could return back to Vestmannaeyjar. Sadly many of these inhabitants would never return to their homes as the lava flow destroyed around 400 homes. The population of the entire island is 5,300, which means 400 homes was around 1/3 of all the houses on the island, that is a huge percentage!
After 5 months of lava and ash flowing out of Eldfell the eruption finally stopped and the island of Heimaey got to work rebuilding their island. Geothermal heating systems were created from the cooling lava flows and the tephra produced in the eruption was used as landfill where 200 new home were built. Talk about making the most out of the situation!
Today life is bustling on Heimaey, but they will never forget the eruption that uprooted many of their lives in 1973. They now have a volcanic museum about the eruption, Eldheimar, which I highly recommend checking out. Something about volcanoes just shows how powerful nature can be!
Before H and I headed up to Eldfell we took a stroll around the lava fields that covered the homes that were destroyed in the eruption. They have added streets signs to show how the neighborhood use to look making it even more surreal that you are walking on top of houses. I now fully understand why archaeologists have given Heimaey the nickname “Pompeii of the North”
All of the bright green grass and pretty purple flowers that now cover the lava fields make it hard to believe that there is lava and houses there doesn’t it?! This area was really beautiful to walk around but every time we came across another street sign it was a reminder of what had happened here just 40 years ago.
After our walk around the lava fields H and I headed up to Eldfell for our last stop of the day. This was the perfect way to end our time in Vestmannaeyjar. The views were unbelievable, and I couldn’t get enough of the colors. Bright reds and orange from the lava rocks, green and blue from the grass and sea, mixed together it was a beautiful combination!
It is a bit hard to tell from the picture but this is the hillside we climbed up. Like straight up! And all that lava rock, it did not make for easy walking ground.
These colors though, amazing right?!
Vestmannaeyjar truly was as beautiful as I had hoped it would be. Learning about the history of this pretty island and the natural forces that have shaped it to what it is today was one of my favorite parts about our trip. After learning about the volcanic eruption and seeing all the damage that had been done it really makes you appreciated the beauty of Vestmannaeyjar.
So what are you waiting for?! Head over to Vestmannaeyjar and hike up a volcano!
Question of the Day?
Have you ever visited a place that has been hit by natural disasters? Have you ever visited lava fields?
