Destination Spotlight

Eyjafjallajokull

While not the largest volcano in Iceland, Eyjafjallajokull is one of its most famous. In 2010, seismic activity in the volcano’s area caused Eyjafjallajokull to erupt. Over the next several days, plumes of ash rose into the sky and blew over much of the northern hemisphere, causing widespread flight delays throughout Europe and Western Asia.

Visiting the now dormant volcano, students will have the opportunity to learn about the geology behind volcanoes and volcanic eruptions, and watch informative videos and presentations at the Eyjafjallajokull Visitors Center. They will also learn about Iceland’s volcanic history from the arrival of the Vikings through modern times, and see huge, stunning images of volcanic activity in Iceland.

Did You Know:

• A few miles west of Eyjafjallajokull is a neighboring volcano, Katla, which is generally a more active volcano, with several eruptions over the last few centuries. Usually, an eruption by Eyjafjallajokull signals an oncoming eruption from Katla; following the 2010 event, however, Katla has shown no signs of erupting.
• Each day during the 2010 eruption, the volcano spewed 0.15 million tons of carbon dioxide (C0²) into the atmosphere. Because of the massive reduction of air travel over Europe, however, the eruption saved an estimated 1.3 to 2.8 million tons of C0² from entering the atmosphere.

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Eyjafjallajökull