Icelandic volcanic eruptions always have a certain charm | Blinks

After several days of more intense seismic activity than usual, Iceland’s Vajradalsjal volcano erupted on Wednesday, located on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the southwest of the country, about 40 kilometers from the capital, Reykjavik. Lava began to flow from a fissure on the side of the mountain into an uninhabited valley, attracting residents and tourists with its amazing eruption. The local Civil Protection Department recommended that people avoid the area due to the risk of releasing toxic gases into the atmosphere; At the moment, however, no accidents have been recorded and no particular risks of damage or inconvenience have been reported.

VIDEO: Iceland’s volcano erupted on Wednesday near the capital, Reykjavik, releasing hot red lava and plumes of smoke from a rift in Miradaler, an uninhabited valley near Mount Vajradalsvilla where its eruption lasted for six months last year. pic.twitter.com/xQ1H7rNW07

– Agence France-Presse (AFP) August 4, 2022

The Vajradalsvial volcano has also erupted In March 2021, for six months, until September. Before that it had been inactive for more than 6000 years. As in this case, until then an eruption was expected through increased volcanic activity and by Tens of thousands of small earthquakes in the region.

Although earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in Iceland are very common – the island is located along the line of intersection of two tectonic plates – the North American and the Eurasian – it did not occur in this region before last year, but volcanic eruptions for about 800 years.

Local authorities imposed a ban on air traffic over the blast area; As defined by the Icelandic Meteorological Agency, however, helicopter passes are allowed to keep the situation under control.

For now, however, Reykjavik Airport is still open and operational, and for now No harassment has been reported Out of the ordinary for flights arriving or departing from the country.

(AP Photo/Marco DiMarco)

The volcanoes in this region of Iceland are flowy and non-eruptive, meaning that the lava flow occurs by flows, without major eruptions and the consequent high plumes of gas, ash and lapilli. These are the volcanic eruptions that Icelanders refer to as “tourists” because, with proper precautions, they can also be observed safely at relatively close range.

Many people will remember the eruption of a volcano Eyjafjöll volcanoWhich in April 2010 led to the emergence of a huge cloud of smoke and ash, impeding air traffic in Europe for several days.

(AP Photo/Marco DiMarco)