The Geldingadalir volcano eruption has produced some incredible images of nature's wrath.
There is no greater display of nature's wrath than when an active volcano decides to sing. Earlier this year the Fagradalsfjall and Geldingadalir volcanoes in Iceland started erupting, opening a new fissure, and creating immense lava fields that took social media by storm. It is not often one gets to see a new eruption and fresh lava flows out of a shield volcano that has been dormant for thousands of years.
The Icelandic eruption made worldwide headlines with millions watching the action on webcams broadcasting a livestream over the Internet. This also gives geologists the chance to study a volcanic eruption up close. However, you will want to be careful where you walk.
Because while cooled lava turns black and looks solid, there may still be molten rock just under the surface. This incredible video of such a crust shows how quickly it can change back to red-hot lava.
The Iceland volcano eruptions are spectacular reminders the Earth is a living, breathing thing. Constantly shifting and changing, creating new craters, rocks, and land masses. This new volcano eruption site is located only about a half-hour drive away from the Capital of Iceland, Reykjavik, which is home to more than 100,000 people. While the Reykjanes eruptions have marked the first time in hundreds of years that this part of Iceland has seen an eruption, the good news is that scientists believe risks to humans are minimal. This part of the Reykjanes Peninsula is mostly uninhabited, and we cannot imagine many being eager to move there after seeing sights like this.
Geologists had a feeling something was up in the Geldingadalir Valley because new tectonic activity started up in 2019 and gradually increased until the Fagradalsfjall volcano finally started erupting on the evening of March 19, 2021.
For the most part, people from Iceland to not seem too concerned with the volcano's sudden waking from a long slumber. In fact, the sudden surge of activity has drawn in plenty of visitors since newscasts started sharing the latest on the volcanic activity. The Associated Press reports some 30,000 people have flocked to the area since eruptions began, hoping to catch a glimpse of lava coming up through fissures, or spewing into the air. It seems this part of Iceland may have a new tourist attraction!
For more outdoor content from Travis Smola, be sure to follow him on Twitter and check out his Geocaching and Outdoors with Travis YouTube channels.
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