Photos

Heimaey is the largest island (13.4 km²) in the Vestmannaeyjar cluster, approximately 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) off the south coast of Iceland. It is the only island in Vestmannaeyjar that is populated, and currently there are around 4,500 inhabitants.

The picture is a view of the town from the Eldfell volcano who almost detroyed the town in 1973.

The Eldfell eruption commenced on 23 January 1973 1973 at around one in the morning as a 1.5 km fissure crossing the island of Heimaey. Many houses close to the main vent were destroyed by pyroclasts before a flank collapse of the volcano in February allowed lava to move into the town. The Icelanders responded by spraying seawater on the lava, finally stopping the advance less than 100 m from the port quaysides. During the eruption period, which lasted until early June, more than 400 establishments were destroyed by tephra fall and lava. The residents of Vestmannaeyjar (~5300 persons at the start of the eruption) were safely evacuated by trawlers and an airlift. Today the town has approximately 4800 inhabitants, and a thriving post-eruption economy.