Lava hotlines and captivating infernos: Inside the volatile world of volcano tourism in Iceland

24.11.2023 - 02:13 / euronews.com

Thirteen years after the Eyjafjallajökull volcano famously spewed ash into European airspace, multiple eruptions across Iceland have spawned an unlikely new travel trend - volcano tourism.

Iceland is one of the most volcanically active places on Earth, with an eruption occurring roughly every three to five years, much to the delight of adventure seekers hoping to catch a glimpse of mesmerising lava flows.

The Nordic island is currently bracing for a new, localised eruption, as officials warn that a volcano near the region of Hagafell could erupt at any time.

Thousands of tremors have recently shaken the Reykjanes Peninsula in the southwest part of the country, and evacuation orders have been issued for the town of Grindavik.

But while Icelandic residents are fleeing, specialist travel operators are busy fielding enquiries on potential volcano viewing.

In recent years, visitor interest in volcanic eruptions has been booming, with the March 2021 eruption at Fagradalsjall attracting thousands of curious spectators.

According to the Icelandic Tourism Board, more than 356,000 tourists visited the smouldering site while the eruption was ongoing.

Long queues along the main walking paths often formed, and many visitors reportedly stayed near the lava field until evening, waiting to take enviable night-time photos of the fiery spectacle.

One of Iceland's most recent eruptions, Litli-Hrútur, generated massive interest from locals and tourists when it spewed crimson lava and ash clouds.

The spectacular eruption began on 10 July 2023, following heightened seismic activity in the Reykjanes Peninsula area - just 30 km southwest of Iceland's capital, Reykjavik.

Here, part of the Fagradalsfjall mountain split open and started blasting molten lava and gas plumes into the air, creating Litli-Hrútur - dubbed 'Earth's newest baby volcano.'

As soon as Icelandic authorities controlled the blazing fires, the brand-new volcano quickly became a unique natural attraction, with a trail established to the captivating inferno.

“In light of the recent volcanic activity, we must emphasise that due to the country's geological landscape, such occurrences are a part of Icelandic life,” says the head of Tourism in Iceland, Lína Petra Þórarinsdóttir.

“All Icelandic infrastructure is planned and executed with this in mind, and the Icelandic Met Office and teams of scientists are constantly monitoring all volcanic activity,” Þórarinsdóttir adds.

The Icelandic authorities prioritise having information about safety and accessibility readily available, and the Reykjanes Peninsula eruption was no exception.

Þórarinsdóttir explains that tourists and Icelanders were provided regular updates about the eruption site and urged to follow instructions and safety