Is Surtsey a volcanic island?

Surtsey is a volcanic island in Iceland. It is the southernmost point of Iceland. The island, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, has an interesting origin.

It came up from the Atlantic Ocean in November 1963 in a powerful eruption. At the peak of the eruption, ashes had reached an astonishing height of 6 km into the air and rained all over the area.

In the next 3.5 years, the volcanic core of the island slowly grew and reached around 2.5 km in area. It is 171 metres above sea level and extends 290 metres below the ocean floor. The maximum height of the island gradually went down to 154 metres due to erosion. And its area was also reduced to 1.4 square km. In 1965, the Icelandic government named the island after the fire god of Icelandic Mythology, ‘Surtur’.

Surtsey was produced by vents under the sea which are part of the Vestmannaeyjar submarine volcanic system. It is part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge- a crack on the ocean floor. American and Icelandic scientists have been doing a biological study of this formation since it cooled down, learning how plants and animals slowly take over a new island.

Geologists, biologists and ecologists have also been learning about Surtsey for years. Along with Surtsey, other islands created by that eruption include Jolnir. Though these will soon erode, Surtsey is expected to remain for another 100 years.

Picture Credit : Google

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