Eldfell
Eldfell
Lava fountains tower over Heimaey in the early stages
of the Eldfell eruption
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Eldfell
Elevation
200 m (660 ft)
Location
Heimaey island, Vestmannaeyjar,
Iceland
Prominence 200 m (660 ft)
Coordinates 63°25′57″N 20°14′51″W / 63.4325°N
20.2475°W / 63.4325;
-20.2475Coordinates: 63°25′57″N
20°14′51″W / 63.4325°N 20.2475°W /
63.4325; -20.2475
Type
Cinder cone
Volcanic
arc/belt
Southern Volcanic Flank Zone[1]
Age of rock Historical
Last
eruption
1973[2]
Eldfell is a cinder cone volcano just over
200 metres (650 ft) high on the Icelandic
island of Heimaey. It formed in a volcanic
eruption which began without warning just
outside the town of Heimaey on 23 January
1973. Its name means Mountain of Fire in
Icelandic.
The eruption caused a major crisis for the
island and nearly led to its permanent evacu-
ation. Volcanic ash fell over most of the is-
land, destroying many houses, and a lava
flow threatened to close off the harbour, the
island’s main income source via its fishing
fleet. An operation was mounted to cool the
advancing lava flow by pumping sea water
onto it, which was successful in preventing
the loss of the harbour.
After the eruption finished, the islanders
used heat from the slowly cooling lava flows
to provide hot water and to generate electri-
city. They also used some of the extensive
tephra, fall-out of airborne volcanic material,
to extend the runway at the island’s small air-
port, and as landfill, on which 200 new
houses were built.
Background
Heimaey before the eruption
This image is a candidate for speedy deletion. It may
be deleted after seven days from the date of
nomination.
Iceland is a region of frequent volcanic activ-
ity, due to its location astride the Mid-At-
lantic Ridge, where the North American and
Eurasian Plates are moving apart, and also
over the Iceland hotspot, which greatly en-
hances the volcanic activity. It is estimated
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