- Visiting Iceland
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- Westfjords
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- Dynjandi in Arnarfjordur
- About the area
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- Drone use at Dynjandi
overlayDynjandi in Arnarfjordur
- Flatey in Breidafjordur
- Hornstrandir
- Why is the area protected?
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overlayHornstrandir
- Hrisey, Reykholahreppur
- Surtarbrandsgil
- Vatnsfjordur
- About the area
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- Hrafna-Flóki and Flókatóftir
- Gíslahellir
- Þingmannaheiði
overlayCulture and history
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overlayVatnsfjordur
overlayWestfjords
- North West
- North East
- Boggvistadafjall
- Dettifoss and a row of waterfalls
- Dimmuborgir
- Public park in Glerardalur
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- Godafoss in Thingeyjarsveit
- Hraun in Oxnadalur
- Hverastrytur in Eyjafjordur
- Hverfjall
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- Myvatn and Laxa
- Seljahjallagil
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overlayNorth East
- West
- Andakill
- Bardarlaug, Snaefellsbaer
- Blautos and Innstavogsnes
- Breidafjordur
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- Einkunnir, Borgarbyggd
- Eldborg in Hnappadalur
- Geitland, Borgarbyggd
- Grabrokargigar, Borgarbyggd
- Grunnafjordur
- Hraunfossar, Borgarbyggd
- Husafellsskogur, Borgarbyggd
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- Melrakkaey
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- Snaefellsjokull National Park
overlayWest
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- Akurey
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- Blafjoll Public Park
- Borgir, Kopavogur
- Bringur, Mosfellsdalur
- Burfell, Gardabaer
- Eldborg in Blafjoll
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- Eldey, Reykjanesbaer
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- Fossvogsbakkar, Reykjavik
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- Grotta, Seltjarnarnes
- Hamarinn, Hafnarfjordur
- Haubakkar, Reykjavik
- Hleinar, Hafnarfjordur
- Hlid, Alftanes
- Hvaleyrarlon and Hvaleyrarhofdi
- Kaldarhraun and Gjarnar
- Kasthusatjorn, Alftanes
- Laugaras, Reykjavik
- Litluborgir, Hafnarfjordur
- Raudholar, Reykjavik
- Reykjanes Public Park
- Skerjafjordur, Gardabaer
- Skerjafjordur, Kopavogur
- Stekkjarhraun, Hafnarfjordur
- Trollaborn, Lækjarbotnar
- Tungufoss, Mosfellsbaer
- Valhusahaed, Seltjarnarnes
- Varmarosar, Mosfellsbaer
- Vifilsstadavatn, Gardabaer
- Vigholar, Kopavogur
overlaySouth West
- South
- Alftaversgigar
- Arnahellir in Leitahraun
- Dverghamrar
- Dyrholaey
- Fjallabak Nature Reserve
- About the nature reserve
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overlayFjallabak Nature Reserve
- Geysir Area
- Gullfoss
- About the area
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overlayGullfoss
- Herdisarvik
- Jorundur in Lambahraun
- Kerlingarfjoll
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overlayInformation
overlayKerlingarfjoll
- Kirkjugolf
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- Skogafoss
- About the area
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overlaySkogafoss
- Surtsey
- Protection
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overlaySurtsey
- Area in Thjorsardalur
- Vatnajokull National Park
- Videy in Thjorsa
- Thingvellir National Park
- Thjorsarver
- About the nature reserve
- Nature and geology
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overlayThjorsarver
overlaySouth
- Mývatn and Laxá
- About Mývatn
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overlayMývatn and Laxá
- National Parks
overlayProtected Areas
- Westfjords
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- Operational licence
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overlayPermits in protected areas
- Drones in protected areas
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overlayDrones in protected areas
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overlayVisiting Iceland
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overlayFrequently asked questions
- Biocides
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overlayClassification and labelling
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overlayPlant protection products
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overlayChemicals
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overlayIndustry
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overlayCircular Economy
- The Agency
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overlayResponsibilities
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overlayThe Agency
Surtsey

Surtsey is Iceland’s southernmost outpost and part of the Westman Islands archipelago. Surtsey was formed in a volcanic eruption first detected on the surface of the ocean on November 14th 1963. The eruption most likely started a few days before as a submarine eruption at a depth of approx. 130 meters.
In addition to Surtsey, the volcanic islands of Surtla, Syrtlingur and Jólnir were also formed in the eruption, but the volcanic activity in them was short-lived; once it was over, the sea easily dismantled them. As a result, the volcanic islands quickly disappeared from the surface of the ocean, but their remains can still be seen underwater. Volcanic activity in Surtsey, however, lasted for nearly four years, with a few eruption breaks. When lava flowed on the island, it became better protected from the sea after the eruption ended, but it was first and foremost the formation of tuffs that secured the future of Surtsey as a part of the Westman Islands archipelago.
The Surtsey eruption is the longest and best-known volcanic eruption in the history of the Icelandic settlement, as the eruption was monitored from the beginning. The Surtsey eruption ended on June 5th 1967.