Community hub
Recent from talks
Contribute something to knowledge base
Content stats: 0 posts, 0 articles, 1 media, 0 notes
Members stats: 0 subscribers, 0 contributors, 0 moderators, 0 supporters
Subscribers
Supporters
Contributors
Moderators
Hub AI
Vestmannaeyjar AI simulator
(@Vestmannaeyjar_simulator)
Hub AI
Vestmannaeyjar AI simulator
(@Vestmannaeyjar_simulator)
Vestmannaeyjar
Vestmannaeyjar (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈvɛstˌmanːaˌeiːjar̥] ⓘ, sometimes anglicised as Westman Islands) is a municipality and archipelago off the south coast of Iceland.
The largest island, Heimaey, has a population of 4,414, most of whom live in the archipelago's main town, Vestmannaeyjabær. The other islands are uninhabited, although six have single hunting cabins.[citation needed] Vestmannaeyjar came to international attention in 1973 with the eruption of the Eldfell volcano, which destroyed many buildings and forced a month-long evacuation of the entire population to mainland Iceland. Approximately one-fifth of the town was destroyed before the lava flow was halted by the application of 6.8 billion litres (1.8 billion US gallons) of cold seawater.
The Vestmannaeyjar archipelago is young in geological terms. The islands lie in the South Iceland volcanic zone (SIVZ) and have been formed by eruptions over the past 10,000–12,000 years. The volcanic system consists of 70–80 volcanoes, both above and below the sea.
Vestmannaeyjar comprises the following islands:
Total area: 16.3 square kilometres (6.3 square miles)
There are 18 islands and about 30 rock stacks and skerries. All the islands have been built up in submarine eruptions and consist of alternating layers of palagonite tuff and lava. The oldest geological formations are in the northern part of Heimaey ("Home Island"), the largest island and the only inhabited one. Basalt columns can be seen in many places, and the sea has eroded the soft rock of the shoreline and scooped out many picturesque coves and grottos, which are among the special features of the islands.
There was a submarine eruption southeast of Hellisey in 1896. The next eruption began on 14 November 1963. It lasted about four years – one of the longest in Icelandic history – and gave birth to Surtsey, the 15th island in the group. In the eruption of 1973 that lasted for 155 days, Heimaey grew by about 2.1 square kilometres (0.81 square miles). The Vestmannaeyjar group is about 38 kilometres (24 miles) long and 29 kilometres (18 miles) broad, the closest point lying about 8 kilometres (5 miles) from the mainland.
There is generally very little snow, but a lot of rain. Owing to this microclimate, returning migratory birds are often first seen in the spring, and they set out from the islands in the autumn. All of Iceland's seabirds can be found in Vestmannaeyjar: the guillemot, gannet, kittiwake, Iceland gull, and puffin. The puffin is the most plentiful species and is the Vestmannaeyjar emblem. More than 30 species of birds nest in their millions in the cliffs and grassy ledges, and other species make irregular appearances.
Vestmannaeyjar
Vestmannaeyjar (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈvɛstˌmanːaˌeiːjar̥] ⓘ, sometimes anglicised as Westman Islands) is a municipality and archipelago off the south coast of Iceland.
The largest island, Heimaey, has a population of 4,414, most of whom live in the archipelago's main town, Vestmannaeyjabær. The other islands are uninhabited, although six have single hunting cabins.[citation needed] Vestmannaeyjar came to international attention in 1973 with the eruption of the Eldfell volcano, which destroyed many buildings and forced a month-long evacuation of the entire population to mainland Iceland. Approximately one-fifth of the town was destroyed before the lava flow was halted by the application of 6.8 billion litres (1.8 billion US gallons) of cold seawater.
The Vestmannaeyjar archipelago is young in geological terms. The islands lie in the South Iceland volcanic zone (SIVZ) and have been formed by eruptions over the past 10,000–12,000 years. The volcanic system consists of 70–80 volcanoes, both above and below the sea.
Vestmannaeyjar comprises the following islands:
Total area: 16.3 square kilometres (6.3 square miles)
There are 18 islands and about 30 rock stacks and skerries. All the islands have been built up in submarine eruptions and consist of alternating layers of palagonite tuff and lava. The oldest geological formations are in the northern part of Heimaey ("Home Island"), the largest island and the only inhabited one. Basalt columns can be seen in many places, and the sea has eroded the soft rock of the shoreline and scooped out many picturesque coves and grottos, which are among the special features of the islands.
There was a submarine eruption southeast of Hellisey in 1896. The next eruption began on 14 November 1963. It lasted about four years – one of the longest in Icelandic history – and gave birth to Surtsey, the 15th island in the group. In the eruption of 1973 that lasted for 155 days, Heimaey grew by about 2.1 square kilometres (0.81 square miles). The Vestmannaeyjar group is about 38 kilometres (24 miles) long and 29 kilometres (18 miles) broad, the closest point lying about 8 kilometres (5 miles) from the mainland.
There is generally very little snow, but a lot of rain. Owing to this microclimate, returning migratory birds are often first seen in the spring, and they set out from the islands in the autumn. All of Iceland's seabirds can be found in Vestmannaeyjar: the guillemot, gannet, kittiwake, Iceland gull, and puffin. The puffin is the most plentiful species and is the Vestmannaeyjar emblem. More than 30 species of birds nest in their millions in the cliffs and grassy ledges, and other species make irregular appearances.
Recent media
Recent media