Is Iceland a safe place to travel?
You may have read or heard about it in the news, that another volcanic eruption in Iceland is expected any day now. Overall, the Reykjanes Peninsula in the southwest of Iceland has witnessed eight volcanic eruptions since 2021. Fortunately, the Icelandic Meteorological Office, backed by a global team of geoscientists, meticulously monitors the area, to keep everybody safe. Sounds scary? Not really – but let´s take a closer look!
Let´s start with the fact that Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula offers a fascinating glimpse into the Earth's inner workings. The volcanic peninsula is one of the few places on earth, where we can literally watch how the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pull apart, creating a dramatic landscape made of many layers of large lava fields, hot springs and boiling mud fields. The Mid-Atlantic Rift As the North American and Eurasion tectonic plates pull apart, magma from deep within the Earth's mantle rises to the surface, leading to eruptions that form new land and shape a completely new landscape. These eruptive processes have happened many times in the geological record of Reykjanes, and there is no indication that this will change in the near future. Still, when a volcano erupted on the Reykjanes peninsula in the remote Geldingadalur Valley on March 19, 2021, it was a new “first” because over 800 years had passed since the last eruptions in this area. Not surprisingly, this truly beautiful eruption was a huge draw for locals and tourists alike! This initial eruption was followed by nearby fissure eruptions in 2022 and 2023 that lasted each only a few weeks. By October 2023, seismic activity had shifted more westward. To be on the safe side, the Icelandic Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management decided to evacuate Grindavík, a small fishing village on the south coast of Reykjanes and it has stayed evacuated ever since, although some companies and people have returned, at least temporarily.
Living with volcanoes In Iceland, volcanoes are a part of our everyday life, contributing to our comfort by supplying us with plenty of geothermal energy, fertile ash, and unique landscapes that have made Iceland a favourite among nature loving travellers. Think of rugged black lava, the shiny black obsidian and the colourful fields made of rhyolite in the Landmannalaugar Nature Reserve! Volcanic activity also provides important resources for spas and wellness sites such as the famous Blue Lagoon and many other geothermal bathing springs and allows Icelandic farmers to grow important produce in greenhouses nationwide. Don´t forget to check out Friðheimar, the absolutely charming Greenhouse Restaurant in the Golden Circle area when you come to Iceland!
Despite the frequency of eruptions in Iceland (in general, an eruption occurs every 4 years), their impact is mostly and luckily only felt in remote areas, away from people and infrastructure, and does usually not disrupt air travel.
Commitment to safety for you & us Public safety is our utmost concern whether you are tourist or a local. With 32 active volcanic systems spread over Iceland´s volcanic zones and belts, Iceland´s Met office is meticulously monitoring seismic activity to address ANY signs of unrest pre-emptively. The Icelandic infrastructure is designed to withstand natural disasters such as earthquakes, ensuring that serious incidents are very rare. As locals, living here 24/7 we can assure you, that Iceland is safe to travel and that you are very welcome to share our nature, our way of life while visiting our beautiful island!
See you soon!
Text by: Meike Witt
Source: Icelandic Met Office, Visit Iceland
Photos: Visit Iceland (Thráinn & Raggi Th)
p.s. If you would like to know more, watch this informative video by Dr Matthew Roberts, the Managing Director at the Icelandic Met office: Q&A about the volcanic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
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