On the evening of March 19^th, 2021 a fissure ripped open and lava poured out in Geldingadalur valley on the Reykjanes peninsula. The eruption was not unexpected since there had been thousands of earth tremors in previous weeks, especially close to Fagradalsfjall mountain where General Frank Maxwell Andrews was tragically killed when his plane “Hot Stuff” crashed into it in May 1943.

The eruption has been a “best-case scenario” eruption in a country that experiences a major eruption every five years. Like Hawaii, Iceland sits atop a mantle plume where magma flows from deep within the earth´s core up to the shallow crust. In addition, Iceland straddles the boundary separating the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Both these geological features explain why Iceland is so prone to earth tremors and volcanic activity.

This day tour will include visiting three places.

• Geldingadalur valley. In the company of an experienced guide, we hike to view the volcanic eruption and enjoy a small picnic, weather permitting. The eruption might not be accessible, but we will see the lava and experience the intense heat from it.
• Seltún (geothermal area). A short hike in a geothermal area with mud pools and fantastically coloured rocks.
• Discovering how the Second World War impacted on Iceland.

Iceland is among the most volcanically active places in the world, with roughly one eruption every five years, not including submarine eruptions. Iceland borders the Arctic Circle where it straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a crack on the ocean floor separating the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. The shifting of these plates is in part responsible for Iceland’s intense volcanic activity.

The last major volcano eruption in Iceland was beneath the Eyjafjallajökull glacier in 2010, which majorly disrupted air traffic throughout the world. The present eruption in Geldingardalur valley, while spectacular, is however small and causes no threat. As one Icelandic scientist put it: this is but a humble fart.