Heimaey harbour

The view from Eldfell, the volcano which erupted on the island of Heimaey in Vestmannaeyjar, 23 January 1973. From the brick-red cinder cone in the foreground, a stark contrast can be seen between the lava-inundated land to the East, and the newly colonised land to the West. This eruption was notable in that the efforts of the island's inhabitants - who pumped seawater onto the lava flowfront - managed to stave off the advancing lava. Now, the encroached lava flows actually serve to better shelter the harbour.