Iceland is currently experiencing a volcanic eruption on Reykjanes peninsula (about 50 miles southeast of the capital Reykjavík). Luckily Iceland is extremely well prepared, and all the citizens are safe.
Iceland — which sits on a tectonic plate boundary that continually splits apart, pushing North America and Eurasia away from each other along the line of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge — is home to 32 active volcanoes. – CNN
REYKJAVIK, Iceland — A volcanic eruption lit up the sky over Iceland Monday night, creating a 2.5 mile fissure that has sent a river of lava flowing toward surrounding towns and thrown molten rock 300 feet into the air. – NBC
The eruption took place in the southwest of the island, near to the Keflavik International Airport, the capital city of Reykjavik and country’s famous thermal springs. – NBC
“If everything is normal, this will subside in the afternoon tomorrow, the crack will begin to retreat into craters. The eruption could last a week to 10 days,” Ármann Höskuldsson, a volcanologist, told RUV, Iceland’s public broadcaster, Monday night. – NBC
People Referenced in the Articles
The folks referenced in these news stories tend to have very cool professional titles and work photos.
Þorvaldur Þórðarson, volcanologist and professor in Volcanology and Petrology at the University of Iceland
Ármann Höskuldsson, volcanologist and research professor at the University of Iceland
Grindavík is a fishing town on the Southern Peninsula of Iceland, not far from Þorbjörn, a tuya (a type of flat-topped, steep-sided volcano).
It is one of the few towns with a harbour on this coast. Most of the inhabitants work in the fishing industry. The Blue Lagoon, Grindavík’s premiere attraction, is located 5 kilometres (3 mi) from the town centre.
In November 2023, in the midst of escalating and severe seismic activity, a state of emergency was declared and the town evacuated.[2] On 18 December 2023, at around 10 p.m. local time (GMT), the Sundhnúkagígaröðin volcano erupted. The eruption is likely close to Hagafell, about 3 kilometres (2 mi) north of Grindavík.[3] A risk is also posed to Svartsengi Power Station. Fountains of lava, up to 100 metres (330 ft) high, can be seen from Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík. Authorities said they were highly prepared.
History
Landnáma or The Book of Settlements mentions that around 934, two Viking settlers, Molda-Gnúpur Hrólfsson and Þórir Haustmyrkur Vígbjóðsson, arrived in the Reykjanes area. Þórir settled in Selvogur and Krísuvík and Molda-Gnúpur in Grindavík.
The town has been an important fishing station since medieval times. In the 13th century its fishing rights were owned by the Bishop of Skálholt, who took payment in stacks of salted cod. It was the scene of fierce disputes between English fishermen and German merchants in the 16th century, leading to 280 Germans storming the ship of John Breye (also known as John the Broad) in 1532 and killing 15 people, including John. The English were subsequently expelled from Iceland.
In June 1627, Grindavík was raided by Barbary Pirates in an event known as the Turkish Abductions. Twelve Icelanders and three Danes, along with two vessels were taken, and with captives taken from other Icelandic settlements, transported into slavery in Salé.
