An Icelandic Volcano Is Erupting For The First Time In Almost 800 Years And The Pics Are Epic

Sorry to be a total David Attenborough, but nature is pretty dang epic. Case and point the long-dormant volcano on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, which has just decided to erupt with particular pzazz.

It wasn’t unexpected by Iceland‘s scientific community, apparently over 50,000 earthquakes had shaken the place up in the week before the eruption began over the weekend. Still, though, it’s been 781 years since the last eruption.

Just look at that light show.

“At around 20:45 UTC today, 19 March, a volcanic eruption began at Geldingadalur, close to Fagradalsfjall on the Reykjanes Peninsula,” stated the first report of the volcano by the Icelandic Meteorological Office.

“At the time of writing, the weather on the peninsula is wet and windy, and an orange glow can be seen in low clouds on the horizon from Reykjanesbær and Grindavík”.

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The reason we can all just gaze in wonder instead of worry is that everyone is ok. The eruption is near an airport and roads were initially closed for safety, but they’re back open again now as the volcano is already chilling out.

The same Office noted by Saturday that “the eruption in Geldingadalur is not large, so it looks like gas pollution from the volcanoes will have little effect on the well-being and health of the inhabitants of the Reykjanes Peninsula and the capital area”.

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This is also why hikers have been flocking to the area to snap pics of the rare event. Honestly, thank god they are because Instagram is a dramatic delight right now with all their photos. If I can’t travel, I at least demand pretty pictures.

All up, for those volcano nerds playing at home, the fissure was about 500 to 800 metres wide, with lava splashing up as high as almost 100 metres, according to the meteorological office’s Bjarki Friis interview with Reuters.