Key Information
Surtsey
| Type | Volcanic Island |
| Area | 0.5 square miles |
| Highest Point | 509 ft |
| Discovered | 1963 |
| Age | 61 years old |
Learning Point
- Beginning its visible formation in 1963, Surtsey is an island volcano that erupted for a time during the mid-1960s, but has since partially eroded by the sea. As a living example of how island formation happens, it has been of great interest to many scientists, who have been able to study how volcanic islands develop, as well as how they are colonised by plant and animal life.
Project
- Draw a picture of Surtsey during one of its eruptions.
- Overview
- Surtseyan Eruption
Location
| Located in | Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, Atlantic Ocean |
Fun Facts
- On 14 November 1963, the cook of Ísleifur II, a trawler sailing these same waters, spotted a rising column of dark smoke southwest of the boat, which was discovered to be a new island forming.
- The new island was named after the fire jötunn Surtur from Norse mythology.
- Within a year of the eruptions, they island had developed enough to remain above the level of the sea.
- Other smaller islands have developed nearby and then been washed away.
Past Lessons
| 99 | January 29, 2024 | (North America) |