Construction of Surtsey

Surtsey is a volcanic island off the southern coast of Iceland, formed in a submarine eruption that began in November 1963 and continued until 1967. Fishermen and sailors first saw smoke and ash rising from the sea, and within days a new island had appeared. It was named after Surtr, a fire giant of Norse mythology. The island was declared a nature reserve, and access is restricted to scientists so that the arrival of plants, insects, seabirds and other life can be studied without interference. Waves have eroded the island since the end of the eruption, and in 2008 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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