After weeks of anticipation, a volcano started erupting on Iceland’s Reykajanes Peninsula on Monday, based on the Icelandic Meteorological Office. The 2.5-mile-long fissure eruption is shut to the well-known – and now quickly closed – Blue Lagoon and the city of Grindavik, which had already been evacuated.

Officers in Iceland warned that whereas the continuing volcano eruption shouldn’t be protected for vacationers to go to, it won’t affect different journey to the nation, or air journey in and across the North Atlantic hub. The Government of Iceland said Keflavik Worldwide Airport (KEF) is “functioning usually and worldwide flights haven’t been affected.”

Which means, when you’ve got an Icelandair or PLAY Airlines flight scheduled to attach by way of KEF someday quickly, you’ll be able to anticipate that flight to function, and also you may get handled to a spectacular view of the eruption, too. Both airlines say there have been no modifications to their flight schedules.

Here is what else it’s essential to know concerning the ongoing volcanic eruption in Iceland.

Is the Eruption Affecting Journey?

You probably have a visit to Iceland arising, do not cancel due to the eruption. Air journey is working like regular, and the remainder of Iceland stays open to guests.

Based on mapping from the Icelandic Meteorological Office, the eruption spans about two-and-a-half miles alongside a fissure on the southern a part of Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula.

The Reykjanes Peninsula is house to Keflavik Worldwide Airport (KEF) – the biggest airport in Iceland and a significant connecting hub between North America and Europe – and the capital metropolis of Reykjavik. The eruption website is roughly half-hour from the airport by automotive and an hour from downtown Reykjavik.

Regardless of the eruption’s proximity to the airport, as of Tuesday morning, data from Flight Aware confirmed Keflavik Airport solely reported three complete flight cancellations and wasn’t within the prime 20 worldwide airports for complete delays and cancellations.

One of these eruption, often known as an Icelandic-type eruption, occurs alongside a fissure and doesn’t sometimes end in huge explosions or massive quantities of ash. In 2010, an ash plume from a volcanic eruption triggered mass cancellations of air journey over Iceland, which is a typical route for transatlantic flights from North America to Europe.

As of Tuesday morning, the highway alongside the north finish of the peninsula between the airport and Reykjavik was nonetheless open to site visitors (outlined in blue). All roads main right down to the closed Blue Lagoon and the city of Grindavik are closed because of the eruption (outlined in pink). You’ll be able to monitor the newest highway closures and data on this website.

With the principle, arterial roadway alongside the north finish of the peninsula (Hwy. 41) remaining open, vacationers with plans to go to Iceland can nonetheless fly into Keflavik (KEF) and drive to the town and past to Iceland’s well-known Golden Circle, the Ring Highway, and extra.

As of 9 a.m. native time Tuesday, the Icelandic Meteorological Workplace mentioned the depth of the eruption is “reducing” after starting in a single day Monday. The eruption, they mentioned, is “reaching a state of equilibrium” as anticipated.

This peninsula is used to seismic exercise like this. That is the fourth eruption since 2021 on this space, according to the Government of Iceland, however is the biggest fissure they’ve seen thus far at 2.5 miles lengthy.

Can I Go to the Volcano Erupting in Iceland?

Vacationers hoping to catch a glimpse of the eruption are being warned to not strategy the world for security causes. College of Iceland Professor Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson advised the Washington Post that the eruption is “not tourist-friendly,” in contrast to the current Fagradalsfjall eruptions in 2021 that attracted guests from everywhere in the world (including some members of the Thrifty Traveler team).

As a substitute, vacationers and curious minds are requested to look at the eruption on stay streams arrange by information companies and the Icelandic authorities. This camera from the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service has an particularly good – and shut – angle of the spewing lava. Reuters’ camera additionally has vantage level.

Backside Line

A volcanic eruption in Iceland has quickly closed the well-known Blue Lagoon and led to an evacuation of the close by city of Grindavik. In contrast to earlier Icelandic eruptions, officers have deemed this one “not tourist-friendly” and are asking locals and vacationers alike to remain away.

Regardless of the eruption’s proximity to the capital metropolis of Reykjavik and the connecting hub Keflavik Worldwide Airport (KEF), officers say air journey and journey inside Iceland will stay principally unchanged regardless of the eruption.

Lead picture courtesy of the Icelandic Coast Guard