Vestmannaeyjar

A landscape of cooled lava, created by the 1973 eruption of the Helgafell volcano, on the Icelandic island of Heimaey. The eruption created a new peak, Eldfell, and a 3 km/1.9 mi lava flow, Eldfellshraun. Magma, rocks, ash, and soot were ejected. Since the eruption, the volcano has stabilized, and vegetation has begun to colonize the slopes.

Cooled lava and boulders in Heimaey, in the Western Islands (Vestmannaeyjar), Iceland. The volcano last erupted in 1973, ejecting magma, rocks, ash, and soot. The slopes have since stabilized, allowing plants to grow there once again. Moss and lichen can be seen on the rocks in the foreground.

Some of the lava from the 1973 eruption of Helgafell, a volcano on the Icelandic island of Heimaey, was distorted as it flowed from the cone. Pressure from movements of the Earth caused it to bend; as the lava cooled and solidified, the curves and folds were preserved.

Vegetation has now begun to recolonize the lava slopes of the Helgafell volcano, on the Icelandic island of Heimaey, which last erupted in 1973.

A slope of cooled lava, showing evidence of the 1973 eruption of the Helgafell volcano, on the island of Heimaey, in the Icelandic Westman Islands. Since the eruption, vegetation has begun to grow once more on the areas affected by the volcano, although temperatures just below the topsoil remain high.

Small group of islands off the south coast of Iceland. The volcanic island of Surtsey emerged from the ocean in 1963, and in 1973 the volcano Helgafell erupted, causing the population of 5,200 to be temporarily evacuated and adding 2.5 sq km/1 sq mi to the islands' area. The eruption created the volcanic cone of Eldfell. Heimaey, the largest of the islands, is one of Iceland's chief fishing ports.

The islands are surrounded by excellent fishing grounds. Harbour facilities are good, but communication with Reykjavik is now principally by air. The Helgafell eruption destroyed numerous houses in the nearby town when a fissure opened up along one of the main streets. The lava was prevented from blocking the vital fishing harbour by spraying the front of the flow with cold water to solidify it.