The parking lot of Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon was covered in lava during the island’s latest volcanic eruption this week, but officials say that the eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula seems to have peaked.
“Due to a volcanic eruption that commenced in Sundhnúksgígar on Nov. 20, we took the precautionary measure of evacuating and temporarily closing all our operational units,” the Blue Lagoon resort posted on social media. “Blue Lagoon will be closed through Sunday, Nov. 24, at which time the situation will be reassessed.”
Despite dramatic video of flowing lava—including some shot from the windows of passenger aircraft—the latest eruption is “significantly smaller” than the last eruption in the area, according to Icelandic tourism officials.
“Air traffic to and from Iceland operates normally, and the country remains a safe destination,” according to an advisory from the Icelandic Tourism Board, which said all services on the island “are operating as usual.”
“The eruption’s impact is highly localized and poses no threat to people,” the tourism board said. “However, the area remains closed to visitors for safety.”
Hidden Iceland Weighs In
Ryan Connolly, marketing director and co-owner of luxury travel company Hidden Iceland, said his company continues to run tours normally in all parts of the country except the immediate eruption area.
“This newest eruption, like the previous seven in the past year, are effusive (as opposed to explosive), meaning mostly lava flow is coming out of the fissure,” said Connolly. “While this has a detrimental effect on the immediate ground environment, it thankfully poses no threat to flights or visibility in the air. This means that travel to and from Iceland remains completely open, with all our guests still traveling to Iceland as planned.”
Echoing the advice of local authorities, Connolly urged visitors not to visit the eruption site on foot. “However, we are working with local helicopter tour companies to add on volcano helicopter rides, that can hover high above the eruption site to get once in a lifetime views of the area,” he noted.
The Reykjanes Peninsula, home of the recently active Sundhnúksgígar craters, is located on the southwest coast of Iceland and about a 40-minute drive from the capital, Reykjavik. Prior to first erupting in 2023, the Sundhnúksgígar volcano had been dormant for about 800 years.
