Lava disrupts iconic Blue Lagoon as Iceland volcano erupts
Once again, Iceland's volcanoes are making themselves known. This touristically attractive island features 130 volcanic cones, 26 historically active volcanoes. Currently, one of them has been awakened, causing considerable damage.
4:53 PM EST, November 26, 2024
The distinctive freely roaming ponies on the island, the Northern Lights, moss covering vast stretches of land, hot springs, legends of elves, and the iconic Blue Lagoon make Iceland an interesting tourist destination in many respects. Geology enthusiasts are drawn by over 130 volcanic peaks, with 26 volcanoes having been active in historical times. The most active among them is Hekla, but it's not the one currently troubling Iceland's inhabitants.
A volcanic eruption is underway in Iceland
The Sundhnúkur Volcano erupted on the evening of Wednesday, November 20, 2024. This is the seventh time in 2024 that the mountain has shown activity. The current eruption was triggered by an earthquake. The volcano is located on the Reykjanes Peninsula—the same area that hosts the Blue Lagoon, a spa known for its healing waters. The Blue Lagoon, considered one of the 25 wonders of the world, is a popular tourist attraction. Due to the volcanic eruption and lava that consumed the spa's parking lot, the site has been temporarily closed.
Despite the volcanic eruption, air traffic in Iceland has not been halted. Smaller and larger airlines fly regularly to and from Keflavík Airport. Among the airlines operating at Keflavík is the British carrier EasyJet. A video showing the volcanic eruption was shot from aboard a plane belonging to this airline. In the video, the pilot asks passengers to remain seated and fasten their seatbelts. He acknowledges that witnessing the volcanic eruption from above is exciting, but emphasizes that passenger safety is more important than spectacular views.
