Located about 30 kilometers off the southern coast of Iceland, lies the small island of Surtsey.
It is one of the world’s youngest island with an age just over fifty years.
Surtsey on November 30, 1963, 16 days after the beginning of the eruption.
Photo credit: Howell Williams.
Surtseys fascinating birth was witnessed by the crew of a trawler that was sailing in the vicinity.
Instead, they found a growing island.
The new island was named after Surtur, the fire god from Norse mythology.
They remained for fifteen minutes before a violent explosion forced them to leave.
Before things got more serious and political, Iceland quickly asserted control over the new island.
Meanwhile, the volcano continued to erupt and the island kept growing.
Its highest point was 174 meters above the sea level.
However, since the end of eruption, the island has been diminishing in size.
As of 2012, its surface area has halved and its maximum elevation has fallen to 155 meters.
At this rate, the island is expected to last another 100 years.
So the island may survive for many centuries.
A lava eruption in Surtsey on April 24, 1964.
The first vascular plants were found growing on the shores in the spring of 1965.
By 2008, there were 69 species of plant in Surtsey.
Surtsey is also teeming with animal life.
Twelve species are now regularly found on the island including fulmar, guillemot, gull, and Atlantic puffins.
Migrating birds also use Surtsey as a stopping place.
Seals are seen basking on the northern shore.
The presence of seal also being orcas to the island.
Insect species on Surtsey ranges in the hundreds.
There are slugs, spiders and beetles.
Once some young boys attempted to grow potatoes on the island, which were promptly dug up once discovered.
Since 1965, Surtsey has been a nature reserve, and a UNESCO world heritage site.
Photo credit: Borgor Magnusson
Sources:www.surtsey.is/www.icelandontheweb.com/Wikipedia
