Vestmannaeyjar
Fissure vent(s) in Iceland
Key Facts
Elevation
283 m (928 ft)
Type
Fissure vent(s)
Location
63.416°, -20.266°
Region
Iceland Neovolcanic Rift Volcanic Province
Rock Type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Tectonic Setting
Rift zone
Location
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Overview
The mostly submarine Vestmannaeyjar volcanic system is the southernmost and youngest volcanic center of the Eastern Volcanic Zone that cuts across E-central Iceland. It consists of a roughly 30 x 40 km group of basaltic islands and submarine cones occupying a shallow shelf off the S coast of Iceland, and was the site of two of Iceland's most noted 20th-century eruptions. The island of Surtsey grew from the ocean floor during 1963-67.
The island of Heimaey, 20 km to the NE, was the site of eruptions in 1973, during which lava flows partially overran the town of Vestmannaeyjar and threatened its harbor. Twenty-two postglacial eruption sites are known, and all ten subaerial vents on Heimaey are of Holocene age.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
Risk Level
Geological Composition & Structure
Rock Types
Tectonic Setting
Age & Formation
Eruption Statistics & Analysis
| Metric | Value | Global Ranking | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Recorded Eruptions | Unknown | Low | Moderately active volcano |
| Maximum VEI | VEI Unknown | Minor | Local impact potential |
| Recent Activity | 53 years ago | Historical | Recently active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Atlantic Ocean Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 372010
- •Evidence: Eruption Observed
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The island of Heimaey, about 10 km off the south coast of Iceland, is part of the Vestmannaeyjar volcanic system, which comprises numerous islands and submarine vents. Heimaey probably formed in the Holocene, through numerous eruptions. Here, an ash-laden eruption plume rises above a volcanic cone behind the town of Vestmannaeyjar in 1973. The water pumping operation in the foreground was designed to cool the front of an advancing lava flow that threatened the town and its harbor.
Photo by Jack Lockwood, 1973 (U.S. Geological Survey).
Authority Sources
Related Volcanoes
Basic Information
This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.