Southern Region

Iceland's Southern Region (Suðurnes and the southern coast) encompasses the Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands) — a volcanic archipelago 10 kilometres off the south coast formed by submarine eruptions on the same mantle hotspot that created Iceland itself. The most recent major eruption was Eldfell on the inhabited island of Heimaey in 1973: a five-month event that buried 400 houses, killed no one (due to a rapid overnight evacuation), and expanded the island's area by 2.5 square kilometres. The buried streetscape is being excavated and interpreted at the Eldheimar museum. Atlantic puffin colonies on the Westman Islands are the world's largest, with 8 to 10 million birds nesting May through August. Spring tidal range in the Vestmannaeyjar is 3.0 to 4.0 metres, reflecting the full North Atlantic tidal regime, with strong currents running through the channels between the main island and the outer stacks. Heimaey town has an annual national festival (Þjóðhátíð) in early August that draws the equivalent of three times the island's population. The kittiwake and gannet colonies on the outer sea stacks are accessible by RIB boat in calm weather. For authoritative Icelandic tide data, consult the Icelandic Meteorological Office (Veðurstofa Íslands).