See Also: Surtsey(encyclopedia)

Surtsey (sh)




Volcanic island off southern Iceland.

It emerged from the ocean in a fiery eruption in November 1963. Over four years its volcanic core built up an island 1 sq mi (2.5 sq km) in area, with elevations over 560 ft (170 m). Named for the fire god of Icelandic mythology, it is now a nature reserve and the site of a joint Icelandic-U.S. biological research program.