Icelandic Eruptions and Explosive Lava

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I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but in 2024, there were six eruptions spraying lava in the well-known area around Grindavík. This town is famous for its hot springs, particularly the world-renowned Blue Lagoon.

This area is located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which sits on the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. This region experiences frequent tremors, and beneath the surface, there is a large reservoir of magma. Scientists predict that this eruption cycle could continue regularly for the next 10 years.

I hope it never erupts all at once, but instead continues to flow out gradually. This isn’t a usual volcano that erupts with a big explosion. Instead, a crack forms in the ground, and then the lava sprays out.

I was in Iceland when this happened for the fourth time in 2024, and I was lucky that the weather was terrible—which meant a day off from work. So, my colleagues and I decided to head out the very next day after the eruption was announced.

We timed it just right, because the following day, all access roads were closed, parking was impossible, and police were everywhere. Even on the day we went, the area was being monitored, but we were able to walk a bit closer before the police stopped us and prevented further access. The restrictions always depend on where the toxic gas clouds are moving and where the fissure and lava flow are heading.

We managed to get about 5–6 kilometers away (as the crow flies) from the spraying lava, close enough to see it with our own eyes. It was an unreal experience—one of those moments when you truly realize that we, as humans, have no power against nature. Nature does whatever it wants, and you can feel its immense force firsthand.

I tried my best to capture this unique moment, but I didn’t have the best equipment. And, of course, as luck would have it, the wind was so strong that if I had launched my drone, I probably would have found it somewhere in Norway.

It might seem incredibly dangerous, but this is a controlled and monitored eruption. That means it doesn’t affect air travel or tourism. However, thanks to the impact of social media, Iceland is often portrayed as an immediate danger zone, when in reality, if you’re just 20 km away, you wouldn’t even know anything was happening.

This kind of eruption is typical for Iceland, which sits on two tectonic plates, and it’s just the Earth “letting off steam”. A much bigger problem would be a volcanic explosion, which could happen here or anywhere else in the world. But these eruptions are regular and not a real threat to most Icelandic citizens.

That being said, for the people of Grindavík, this is pretty much the end of the road. Each new eruption is getting closer to the village and Blue Lagoon, which is now seriously at risk.

Still, speaking from experience, Iceland has plenty of other hot springs that are worth visiting. But I get it a picture from other hot springs probably won´t get you as many likes as the one from Blue Lagoon.

When we arrived, we were met with a crowd of people and a lot of cars—it was a bit chaotic. However, most people sat down and simply enjoyed the view of the lava, taking in the moment.

I have to say, most behaved respectfully, and only a small handful of people dared to cross the restricted area—there’s always someone who pushes the limits.
But honestly, I fully enjoyed it even from a distance.

-----------------All photos mentioned in this story are mine-----------------

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Have a great day and don’t forget to take a walk!

Helping with translations: Deepl
Helping with translations: ChatGPT
Helping with grammar: Grammarly