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An archipelago comprising 13 islands and numerous skerries. One of its islands, Surtsey, emerged from the ocean in a 1963 submarine eruption that lasted until 1967. In 1973, all 5,000 inhabitants of the only inhabited island were evacuated in one drama-filled night when Mt. Heimaey erupted and nearly destroyed the town. Excavation digs at the so-called Pompeii of the North site provide an interesting look into what was almost a devastating tragedy.
A walk around town makes one ponder how it is to actually live “atop” this active volcano that thousands call home.
Puffins abound, and play a role in the island’s culture, for example as the island’s emblem. Birdwatching opportunities abound as more species of seabirds are known to gather here than anywhere else in Iceland.
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