![\"\"](\"https:\/\/volcanoatv.is\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/hraun-vefur.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIsland creation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019d have visited the Westman Islands around 20000 years ago, the land masses and rocky outcrops you see today would have been concealed beneath the surface of the ocean. The volcanic activity that was responsible for their creation kicked off many thousands of years before that, but these things take time! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, there are about 80 volcanic craters in all, but more than three quarters of them are submerged \u2013 at least for now. A magma chamber exists well below island level, meaning this archipelago is still considered tectonically active. For example, Surtsey was famously created during an eruption that lasted from 1963 to 1967. Meanwhile, Heimaey grew a bit more as a result of the events of 1973 which led to the formation of Eldfell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Incidentally, Heimaey, the only inhabited island in Vestmannaeyjar, is actually the result of multiple volcanic eruptions. Cliffs such as Nor\u00f0urklettar, Heimaklettur, Mi\u00f0klettur and Ystiklettur (once two separate islands) are the result of eruptions that took place 10000 to 12000 years ago. St\u00f3rh\u00f6f\u00f0i and the islands of Elli\u00f0aey and Bjarnaey date from about 6000 years ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Things kicked off again about 5000 years ago with a dramatic eruption at Stakkab\u00f3tag\u00edgur, which is when a huge crater was formed at St\u00f3rh\u00f6f\u00f0i. Not long afterwards, geologically speaking, Helgafell erupted and again there were significant changes to the landscape as a consequence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What makes this process especially exciting to anyone with an interest in geology or geography is that it is ongoing. Nature hasn\u2019t finished creating the Westman Islands just yet and periodically in the future we can expect volcanic activity to reshape the landscape here. New islands will form and existing islands will be altered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Volcanic tours of Iceland, both here and in other parts of the country such as the Reykjanes peninsula, continue to fascinate tourists. It\u2019s a big part of Iceland\u2019s appeal to outsiders. Those who find their way to the Westman Islands can see for themselves the cones and craters, lava fields, rocky cliffs and sea stacks that are all evidence of volcanic activity in the archipelago. These natural wonders on Heimaey \u2013 and close by \u2013 are a large part of what makes boat trips and ATV tours of the island so interesting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Come and see for yourself how the geology of the Westman Islands is a window onto the past and a clue to the archipelago\u2019s future. We\u2019ll take you on a thrilling ATV ride that incorporates key landmarks such as Elephant Rock and St\u00f3rh\u00f6f\u00f0i, plus gives you the opportunity to ride across a lava field as you follow off road trails to Eldfell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Accompanied by a guide, you\u2019ll find out more about the processes that shape the land around you and of course you\u2019ll have the chance to ask questions when we stop at regular intervals during this tour. We can promise you that it\u2019s much more fun than learning about geology from a school textbook, so why not sign up for this educational but highly entertaining tour?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Geology enthusiasts can\u2019t fail to be impressed by the Westman Islands. If you\u2019re planning a volcanic tour of Iceland, then…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":1081,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1470","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/volcanoatv.is\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/20250707_072458-web.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNature hasn\u2019t finished with the Westman Islands just yet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enjoy an ATV adventure as you learn about the archipelago\u2019s geological wonders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n