Eldfell - Heimaey, Iceland
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tatie
N 63° 25.988 W 020° 14.791
27V E 537598 N 7034070
Eldfell volcano is located on Heimaey, Iceland.
Waymark Code: WMET2C
Location: Iceland
Date Posted: 07/03/2012
Views: 12
Iceland is a region of frequent volcanic activity, due to its location on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian Plates are moving apart.
Eldfell is a composite volcanic cone just over 200 metres 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 evacuation. Volcanic ash fell over most of the island, destroying around 400 homes, 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 electricity. They also used some of the extensive tephra, fall-out of airborne volcanic material, to extend the runway at the island's small airport, and as landfill, on which 200 new houses were built."
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