- A volcanic eruption occurred near Iceland’s capital, between Slingarfell and Hagafell on the Reykjanes Peninsula, near the town of Grindavik.
Iceland, the ‘Land of Fire and Ice’
- Geographical Location: Iceland is located in the North Atlantic Ocean, just south of the Arctic Circle.
- Tectonic Setting: The country is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which separates the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
- Iceland’s terrain is unique, with geysers, glaciers, mountains, volcanoes, and lava fields, as well as 33 active volcanoes, the most in Europe.
- Historical Settlement: The first human settlement on Iceland was made in 874 by Norsemen from Scandinavia, which resulted in the establishment of Reykjavik.
Recent Volcanic Activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula
- Historical Dormancy: The Reykjanes Peninsula had been dormant for 800 years, until lately.
- Recent Eruptions: The latest eruption is the peninsula’s fourth in less than three years, indicating a possible new period of volcanic activity.
- Eyjafjallajokull Eruption: The 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajokull was the most recent big volcanic event in Iceland to garner international attention.
- Timeline and Impact of Eruption: The volcano erupted twice in March and April 2010, causing an ash cloud to stretch across continents and delaying air traffic on the North Atlantic route for six days — the largest disruption since World War II.
Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/world/land-of-fire-and-ice-will-the-grindvaik-eruption-in-iceland-be-another-eyjafjallajokull--93471