Heimaey Island is the only populated island in the archipelago of Vestmannaeyjar (Western Islands) off Iceland’s south coast; it was partially destroyed by the five-month eruption of the Edfell (Fire Mountain) volcano in 1973
Founded by underwater volcanic eruptions, the archipelago of Vestmannaeyjar (Western Islands) off Iceland’s south coast is also its most profitable fishing harbor. Partially engulfed by lava in 1973, Heimaey, the only populated island in the archipelago, has striking landscapes backdropped by grass-topped cliffs, a profusion of birdlife, colorful street art, and Icelandic cuisine. A walk along its quiet streets reveal adorable puffin-themed street signs and storytelling murals including one of island local Halla Svavarsdottír depicted by Australian graffiti artist Guido van Helten.
Surrounded by tall cliffs filled with nesting puffins, fulmars, and guillemot in season, the natural harbor on Heimaey Island was saved from destruction by the townspeople spraying fire hoses to stop the lava flow from the five-month eruption of the Edfell (Fire Mountain) volcano in 1973, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
Our grandson posed with a giant puffin statue in the harbor on Heimaey Island, Iceland, before we visited Puffin Lookout at the opposite end of the island where we saw hundreds of puffins in flight over the coastline, many landing on shore
Homes in Heimaey Town that were spared destruction and/or burial under the giant lava flows from the Edfell (Fire Mountain) volcano in 1973, Heimaey Island, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
A film and interesting interactive exhibits at the relatively new and well-designed Eldheimar Volcano Museum relay the story of the 1963 Surtsey eruption and the devastating, five-month eruption of Eldfell (Fire Mountain) on Heimaey in 1973. Most of the 5,000 residents of Heimaey Town were safely evacuated, but over 400 homes and businesses were destroyed. The museum was constructed around the excavated home of a young Heimaey couple and their young daughter who were evacuated from the island before their home was buried underneath the lava flow. The excavated home was fascinating to see and it formed the touchstone for many of the nearby exhibits. The experience was akin to visiting a modern day Pompeii in Italy (which was buried by Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.) and is now a park open to the public.
Hardened lava fields from the five-month eruption of the Edfell (Fire Mountain) volcano in 1973, Heimaey Island, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
A view of homes spared from destruction in 1973 when the Edfell (Fire Mountain) volcano erupted, as seen from our walk on top of the lava fields near the harbor, Heimaey Island, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
There’s been enough erosion of the Edfell volcano lava field over the past 46 years that plants, including the lupine in the foreground, are now taking over some of the surface of the lave field, Heimaey Island, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
The western coast of Heimaey Island, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
In the Herjólfur Valley, we were able to visit (including a tour inside) a Viking-era sod-roofed farmhouse that is approximately 1,000 years old – the oldest surviving structure on Heimaey Island, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
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