In pictures: Volcano erupting in southwestern Iceland

A volcano erupting in southwestern Iceland is sending flashes of light into the evening sky and spewing semi-molten rock into the air in a spectacular show of the Earth’s power in the land known for fire and ice.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/12/2023 (964 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A volcano erupting in southwestern Iceland is sending flashes of light into the evening sky and spewing semi-molten rock into the air in a spectacular show of the Earth’s power in the land known for fire and ice.

Iceland, which sits above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, averages an eruption every four to five years. “This style of eruption is amongst the most spectacular ever seen,” said Matthew Watson, a professor of volcanoes and climate at the University of Bristol.

This image provided by Iceland Civil Defense shows lava erupting from a volcano between Hagafell and Stóri-Skógfell, Iceland, on on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Iceland Civil Defense via AP)
This image provided by Iceland Civil Defense shows lava erupting from a volcano between Hagafell and Stóri-Skógfell, Iceland, on on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Iceland Civil Defense via AP)
The active vents on the eruptive fissure in Iceland, Sunday March 17, 2024, a day after the volcanic eruption. A volcanic system on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the country’s southwest erupted late Saturday for the fourth time in three months. (AP Photo/Marco di Marco)
The active vents on the eruptive fissure in Iceland, Sunday March 17, 2024, a day after the volcanic eruption. A volcanic system on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the country’s southwest erupted late Saturday for the fourth time in three months. (AP Photo/Marco di Marco)
The lava flow that crossed Grindavikurvegur, the road to Grindavik in Iceland, Sunday March 17, 2024, a day after the volcanic eruption. A volcanic system on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the country’s southwest erupted late Saturday for the fourth time in three months. (AP Photo/Marco di Marco)
The lava flow that crossed Grindavikurvegur, the road to Grindavik in Iceland, Sunday March 17, 2024, a day after the volcanic eruption. A volcanic system on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the country’s southwest erupted late Saturday for the fourth time in three months. (AP Photo/Marco di Marco)
The lava flow that crossed Grindavikurvegur, the road to Grindavik in Iceland, Sunday March 17, 2024, a day after the volcanic eruption. A volcanic system on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the country’s southwest erupted late Saturday for the fourth time in three months. (AP Photo/Marco di Marco)
The lava flow that crossed Grindavikurvegur, the road to Grindavik in Iceland, Sunday March 17, 2024, a day after the volcanic eruption. A volcanic system on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the country’s southwest erupted late Saturday for the fourth time in three months. (AP Photo/Marco di Marco)
Spectators watch plumes of smoke from volcanic activity between Hagafell and Stóri-Skógfell, Iceland, on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Marco di Marco)
Spectators watch plumes of smoke from volcanic activity between Hagafell and Stóri-Skógfell, Iceland, on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Marco di Marco)
Emergency vehicles are stationed on a road leading to volcanic activity between Hagafell and Stóri-Skógfell, Iceland, on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Marco di Marco)
Emergency vehicles are stationed on a road leading to volcanic activity between Hagafell and Stóri-Skógfell, Iceland, on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Marco di Marco)
Aerial view of the Southern active segment of the fissure of an active volcano in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Di Marco)
Aerial view of the Southern active segment of the fissure of an active volcano in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Di Marco)
Scientist of the University of Iceland take measurements and samples standing on the ridge in front of the active part of the eruptive fissure of an active volcano in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Di Marco)
Scientist of the University of Iceland take measurements and samples standing on the ridge in front of the active part of the eruptive fissure of an active volcano in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Di Marco)
This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows a color infrared overview of Grindavik and lava from a volcano in Iceland on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023.   (Satellite image ©2023 Maxar Technologies via AP)
This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows a color infrared overview of Grindavik and lava from a volcano in Iceland on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (Satellite image ©2023 Maxar Technologies via AP)
A close up of the Southern active segment of the original fissure of an active volcano in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Di Marco)
A close up of the Southern active segment of the original fissure of an active volcano in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Di Marco)
This image made from video provided by the Icelandic Coast Guard shows its helicopter flying near magma running on a hill near Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula sometime around late Monday, Dec. 18, or early Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (Icelandic coast guard via AP)
This image made from video provided by the Icelandic Coast Guard shows its helicopter flying near magma running on a hill near Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula sometime around late Monday, Dec. 18, or early Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (Icelandic coast guard via AP)
Lava fountains are seen as volcanic eruption started, turning the sky orange, in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Di Marco)
Lava fountains are seen as volcanic eruption started, turning the sky orange, in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Di Marco)
A volcanic eruption is seen, turning the sky orange, in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Di Marco)
A volcanic eruption is seen, turning the sky orange, in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Di Marco)
A close up of the Southern active segment of the original fissure of an active volcano in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Di Marco)
A close up of the Southern active segment of the original fissure of an active volcano in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Di Marco)
This image made from video provided by the Icelandic Coast Guard shows magma flow on a hill near Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula sometime around late Monday, Dec. 18, or early Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (Icelandic coast guard via AP)
This image made from video provided by the Icelandic Coast Guard shows magma flow on a hill near Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula sometime around late Monday, Dec. 18, or early Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (Icelandic coast guard via AP)
The night sky is illuminated caused by the eruption of a volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula of south-west Iceland seen from the capital city of Reykjavik, Monday Dec. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Brynjar Gunnarsson)
The night sky is illuminated caused by the eruption of a volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula of south-west Iceland seen from the capital city of Reykjavik, Monday Dec. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Brynjar Gunnarsson)
Aerial view of the only two segments of the fissure still active of an active volcano in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Di Marco)
Aerial view of the only two segments of the fissure still active of an active volcano in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Di Marco)
The night sky is illuminated caused by the eruption of a volcano in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Di Marco)
The night sky is illuminated caused by the eruption of a volcano in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Di Marco)
History

Updated on Monday, March 18, 2024 5:13 PM CDT: Adds images from latest eruption

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