Vulkanska landskap i Vestmannaeyjabær

Volcanic Landscapes of Heimaey

The Westman Islands offer a concentrated look at Iceland’s volcanic activity and coastal erosion. This selection features Eldfell, the cone formed during the 1973 eruption that nearly destroyed Heimaey's harbor, and the older, dormant Helgafell. The list also includes Surtsey, a UNESCO World Heritage site created by undersea eruptions in the 1960s, and Heimaklettur, the archipelago's highest peak composed of palagonite tuff. These sites illustrate the geological transition from ancient sea cliffs to newly formed lava fields and sea caves.