Iceland volcanic. So, I’ll never forget my first earthquake in Iceland. Picture this: I’m in my attic apartment in Reykjavík, freaking out when the place starts shaking. I dart for the door frame, praying the whole building doesn’t collapse on me. The tremors stop quick, but my knees are still knocking for a good while.
Then there was the first time I saw a volcano. It was the Fimmvörðuháls eruption in 2010, just before the infamous Eyjafjallajökull eruption that made headlines worldwide. I suited up like an Arctic explorer and rode a snowmobile to see this fiery show on Sólheimajökull glacier. Imagine glowing lava shooting up into the night sky, a lava waterfall, and the sound of the earth doing its thing – that rumble is still stuck in my head.
Coming from a place near Toronto where earthquakes and volcanoes were TV stuff, Iceland’s raw power was a wake-up call.
Nature’s Warnings
Iceland’s gorgeous, sure, but it’s no joke. The lack of trees and the vast, sometimes desolate lava fields make it seem out of this world. But visitors quickly learn: admire it, but respect it too.
Icelanders get it. Their country’s stunning, but it’s got teeth. And lately, one area, Grindavík, is facing a serious wake-up call. The Icelandic Meteorological Office is warning of a brewing eruption, leading to evacuations and folks seeking shelter all over.
Living on the Edge
Grindavík has been playing a risky game, dealing with tremors and shakes in recent years. The Reykjanes peninsula where it sits started acting up in 2019, and since then, it’s been one eruption after another, the most recent being in July 2023.
Us folks in Reykjavík felt the quakes, too, like a massive truck ramming into our buildings. But for Grindavík, it’s not just a quirky news piece. The ground there’s been dancing like crazy, and the residents are feeling like there’s a monster lurking beneath their feet.
Unleashing the Beast
Iceland volcanic. November 10 was chaos for Grindavík. The monster, aka seismic activity volcanic, reached its peak, sending the ground into a frenzy and finally prompting the town’s 3,700 residents to evacuate. There’s a 15-kilometer lava tunnel snaking under the town, thanks to this restless beast.
Thankfully, things have calmed a bit. No more shakes for us in Reykjavík, but the whole country’s buzzing about the explosive nature of Iceland. It’s got everyone wondering: will Grindavík ever be safe to return to? Will people want to go back?
A Scary Reality
It’s like a nightmare – seeing homes at risk because of something as magnificent as a volcano. I’ve got vivid memories of my first volcano, but I don’t want anyone’s home to become a memory.