News - Photo reports

25/04/2008

Westmann islands in Iceland

Philip Plisson's photo report in Iceland : first part, the Westmann islands.

Philip Plisson and Arnaud Guérin, geologist vulcanologist, survey the "islands of fire", a dozen islands on the planet on which volcanism is active. Each of them provides their own gaze : Arnaud studies volcanoes and Philip the life of the inhabitants - in particular maritime - in the volcanoes' surroundings.

The archipelago of Westmann islands, about twenty kilometers of the southwestern coast of Iceland, is the result of a very active volcanism.

In 1973, on the Heimaey island - the only one inhabited of the archipelago - the most violent volcanic eruption of the last decade has destroyed half of the city and covered the rest by a thick layer of ash. The harbour and the most important fisheries were saved by the inhabitants who sprayed constantly the edge of the lava flow with millions of liters of sea water per hour to cool it.
It was a complete success and the lava was stopped. The next year, the two thirds of the inhabitants were back on the island to reconstruct their houses.

To follow-up : Philip Plisson's photo report in Iceland. Embark aboard a fishing boat!