| One of the most destructive volcanic eruptions in the history of Iceland began in the early morning of January 23, 1973, near the Nation's premier fishing port, the town of Vestmannaeyjar, on Heimaey, the only inhabited isle in the Vestmannaeyjar volcanic archipelago. This 28-page booklet discusses the impact of the 1973 volcanic eruption of Eldfell on the island of Heimaey. Before the eruption was over, approximately one-third of the town of Vestmannaeyjer had been obliterated, but, more importantly, the potential damage probably was reduced by the spraying of seawater onto the advancing lava f!ows, causing them to be slowed, stopped, or diverted from the undamaged portion of the town. -- Williams and Moore |
