“Why Iceland’s Minor Volcano Is a Major Problem.” “Volcano Casts Cloud Over European Economy.” “The terrifying cauldron of lava and lightning that has brought chaos to our airports ... and it’s STILL going strong.”
These were the headlines that brought Iceland into the international consciousness in the spring of 2010. Although the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull was less explosive than other notable eruptions such as Mount St. Helens in 1980, the ash it spewed eight miles into the sky complicated life for more than the 800 Icelanders who evacuated its perimeter.