Iceland review - 2015, Qupperneq 35

ICELAND REVIEW 33
emptied itself,” she states, adding that the
first results of the Futurevolc research on
the rifting episode was published in the
January 2015 issue of Nature.
KEEPING WATCH
“As time passes, the risk of an imminent
eruption decreases,” Víðir states. Due to
the danger of flash flooding, a large area
in the northeastern highlands remained off
limits for the public throughout the erup-
tion, including popular tourist destinations
such as Askja volcano. In mid-March, how-
ever, most of the closures were lifted. The
restricted area now extends 20 m (66 feet)
outside the edges of the new lava field, to
the edge of Dyngjujökull outlet glacier on
the south side, river Jökulsá á Fjöllum in
the east and the westernmost branches of
Jökulsá á Fjöllum in the west. Now, people
can almost travel right up to the new lava
field, although it isn’t safe to traverse the
lava. The Scientific Advisory Board of the
Icelandic Civil Protection Department is
constantly monitoring developments in the
area and reviewing the situation. “We will
continue to have people guarding the area,”
Víðir assures.
He says there’s no reason not to visit the
country. “We have a very efficient monitor-
ing network and an early warning system
for tourists. All mobile phones which are
turned on, Icelandic and foreign, within a
certain area will receive an SMS message
if a warning is issued.” Víðir recommends
the website safetravel.is for registering travel
plans and obtaining information.
For now, all is quiet on the eruption
front. “Predicting the end of an eruption is
no problem, but predicting the start of an
eruption is more difficult,” Haraldur says
with a smile. “I always say: ‘Grímsvötn’
when I’m asked where the next eruption
will occur and I’m usually right—because
that’s the volcano which erupts most often
in Iceland.” *
ERUPTION