Surtsey
In November 1962, an underwater volcano erupted 30 kilometers off the coast of Iceland. The eruption continued for nearly four years, sending clouds full of rock, ash, cinder, and steam up to seven kilometers into the air. Volcanic ash fell on villages across Iceland. When the lava from the eruption eventually cooled, it formed an island that rose 168 meters above the sea, and covered over five square kilometers. The Icelanders named their new island Surtsey, after Sutur, the Norse god of fire.
Today, Surtsey is off-limits to the general public; only scientists with special government permission can visit. The island has become an ideal place to study how new life develops and survives in a fresh environment. Some scientists refer to Surtsey as a living laboratory.
Seeds that were first transported to Surtsey by birds, wind, and waves have become flowering plants, mosses, and sea grasses, and thrive across the island. Seals migrate to the island to catch fish that seek shelter and food along its shores. The island's cliffs, protected from harsh weather and strong winds, are home to thousands of birds. Surtsey has over 60 species of birds that either live there year-round, or stop there on their annual migrations.
Today, Surtsey covers only three square kilometers. It is being eroded by waves and winds, while the weight of the nearby volcano that created the island is pressing down on the sea floor, dragging Surtsey back under the ocean. Scientists estimate that Surtsey has only another century before it disappears under the waves.