The people of Heimaey Island celebrate Goslokahátíð on the 3 – 5 of July to commemorate the end of the historic 1973 eruption.
On the 23rd of January 1973, a huge volcanic eruption began without any warning on the outskirts of Vestmannaeyjar town on Heimaey Island, south of Iceland. The event forced the entire population to evacuate their homes and set sail to mainland Iceland.
It was a stroke of good luck that, because of a storm the previous day, most of the town’s fishing fleet lay in the harbour that night. This meant evacuating the island went swiftly, the first ship leaving the harbour at around 02.30 am and the last one four hours later. Roughly 300 volunteers and rescue workers stayed on and tried to minimise the damage as best they could.
On the 3rd of July, 1973, it was formally announced that the eruption was finally over. By the end of 1974, about half of the inhabitants had returned to their homes on the island, and by March 1974, that number had grown to 80 percent.
Locals celebrate the end of the eruption each year during the first weekend in July. Among the many festivities taking place that weekend are concerts, exhibitions, and games and activities for children. The weekend’s highlight is on Saturday evening when the baiting sheds by the harbour are turned into concert venues with live music.
Read more: The Westman Islands are the Pompeii of the North
The people of Heimaey Island celebrate Goslokahátíð on the 3 – 5 of July to commemorate the end of the historic 1973 eruption.
On the 23rd of January 1973, a huge volcanic eruption began without any warning on the outskirts of Vestmannaeyjar town on Heimaey Island, south of Iceland. The event forced the entire population to evacuate their homes and set sail to mainland Iceland.
It was a stroke of good luck that, because of a storm the previous day, most of the town’s fishing fleet lay in the harbour that night. This meant evacuating the island went swiftly, the first ship leaving the harbour at around 02.30 am and the last one four hours later. Roughly 300 volunteers and rescue workers stayed on and tried to minimise the damage as best they could.
On the 3rd of July, 1973, it was formally announced that the eruption was finally over. By the end of 1974, about half of the inhabitants had returned to their homes on the island, and by March 1974, that number had grown to 80 percent.
Locals celebrate the end of the eruption each year during the first weekend in July. Among the many festivities taking place that weekend are concerts, exhibitions, and games and activities for children. The weekend’s highlight is on Saturday evening when the baiting sheds by the harbour are turned into concert venues with live music.
