Wikipedia:Today's featured article/April 14, 2006



Eldfell is a cinder cone volcano just over 200 m (650 ft) high on the Icelandic island of Heimaey. Its name means Fire Mountain, and it formed in a volcanic eruption which began without warning just outside the town of Heimaey on 23 January 1973. The eruption caused a major crisis for the island and nearly led to its permanent evacuation. Volcanic ash fell over most of the island, destroying many houses, and a lava flow threatened to close off the harbour, the island's main income source via its fishing fleet. An operation was mounted to cool the advancing lava flow by pumping sea water on it, and this was successful in preventing the loss of the harbour. Following the end of the eruption, the islanders used the heat from the slowly cooling lava flows to provide hot water and generate electricity. They also used some of the extensive tephra fall of airborne volcanic material to extend the runway at the island's small airport, and as landfill on which 200 new houses were built. (continued...)

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