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218 Europe

Figure 14.8 English school students on an Icelandic study tour, climbing Eldfell, July 2008

Eldheimar – ‘The Pompei of the North’
tourist attraction

Currently the local council is developing an
exciting geotourism attraction called ‘Eldheimar –
the Pompei of the North’. This is based on the
1973 eruption, which occurred 5000 years after
the preceding one, causing its 5000 inhabitants to
flee to the mainland. The eruption continued for
five months engulfing 400 houses in lava and
tephra. The proposed attraction aims to excavate
14 of the former houses which were buried in
tephra by the eruption. Inside the houses are all of
their contents which were buried four days after
the eruption commenced.
The excavations so far have revealed much that
is well preserved over the past 35 years, and it is
hoped that some of the home’s former residents will
be able to recover some of their treasured possessions
that they thought were lost forever. At present
excavations have commenced and the tops of some
houses are exposed. Interpretive signs have been
erected and it is already attracting many visitors.
Figure 14.9 Vestmannaeyjar ‘Volcanic World’ marketing When completed it is hoped to have excavated
brochure, 2009 seven to ten houses so that in time a small village

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