The final stop on our Summer Circumnavigation of Iceland before returning to Reykjavik was the stunning Westman Islands, or Vestmannaeyjar. This archipelago to the south of the mainland of Iceland consists of about 15 islands and numerous skerries, but only the main island of Heimaey is populated all-year round.
The Westman Islands were formed by undersea volcanic activity, and the newest island, Surtsey, was created by a volcanic eruption as recently as 1963. The government has maintained that as a natural ‘pristine’ environment and continues to monitor it for plant and animal life, free as much as possible, from human activity and interference. Tourism is definitely off-limits.
Heimaey suffered a major volcanic eruption of its own in 1973, a disaster that forced almost the entire population of the island to be evacuated. It would be more than six months before they would be permitted to return. About a third of the properties in the town had been damaged by fire, lava or ash. But it could have been much worse: the wind direction when the volcano first erupted was away from the town and a major exercise pumping seawater onto the lava flow ensured that the lifeline harbour remained open to the sea.
Now, in summer, Vestmannaeyjar is a bustling tourist destination with a variety of activities and excursions on offer. We went on a ‘Lava Walk’ where we heard more about the 1973 eruption and saw first-hand the effects on the landscape. It was dramatic to stand on what had been the surface of the lava flow and realise how high we were above the streets below that had escaped being engulfed.
A visit to Vestmannaeyjar was an excellent way to round off our cruise that had started ten days earlier. We would dock in Reykjavik early the next morning, taking with us many memories (and just as many photographs!}
The China Penguin 