A large portion of southwestern Iceland that includes world-famous attractions like the Blue Lagoon has been dealing with volcanic eruptions since late 2023. The eruptions forced the evacuation of the fishing town of Grindavík and have been captured in striking images showing large plumes of smoke and burbling molten rock. At night, the region looks a bit like Mordor, and during the day, the bright orange lava provides a stark contrast to the snow-covered landscape.
According to Iceland’s Meteorological Office, the latest eruption began shortly after 10 p.m. local time on March 17, and the lava flow has since subsided significantly. Photos of the eruption make for some remarkable viewing.
