The Breathtaking Westman Islands

This is the second blog post from our guest blogger Dóri Sig.

Dóri is a fellow Icelander, and he is also a bit of a legend. His coverage of the protests that accompanied the Icelandic crash is unique and he is also an accomplished photographer and traveler. Here is Dóri on CNN explaining the rioting in 2009. Previously, he has blogged about the lonely mountain Hafursey, divine Ásbyrgi, and the Westfjords.

The Westman Islands are a great place to visit. You can fly to the islands or take the ferry. The ferry trip will take you about 30 minutes.

On the 23rd of January 1973, a major volcanic eruption devastated the town. Many houses were utterly destroyed by red-hot, flowing lava or by the crushing weight of ash that covered the entire town. Fortunately, the fishing fleet was in harbor that night, so the entire population could be evacuated relatively quickly. The harbor itself, the focal point of this fishing town, was narrowly saved by slowing down the flow of the lava approaching it by pumping seawater at it. Some houses have been excavated from the pumice and ash. Please do not enter these houses unless you are with a guide or with explicit permission. Remember that this used to be somebody´s home, and the houses may not be safe to enter.

In 1963, the youngest island in the world was born. There was a volcanic eruption under the sea just near the Westmann Islands, and from that came the island Surtsey.

The Westman Islands are one of the wonders of nature with its mountains, islands, the hopefully now dormant volcano, and seabirds.

Introductory video to the Vestman Islands

How to get there?
You can take the ferry Herjolfur or fly to the islands via Air Iceland.

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