Iceland review - 2015, Page 104

102 ICELAND REVIEW
Vestmannaeyjar (the Westman Islands) may not be the easiest win-
ter destination to get to. But it’s so worth the effort. Vestman-
naeyjar are a group of 14 islands off the south coast of Iceland, with
the largest, Heimaey, the only inhabited one. Vestmannaeyjar feature
a landscape that is chock-full of rocky ridges, colorful houses and a
lot of hiking opportunities. With fewer than 5,000 residents, Heimaey
is an isolated town, surrounded by beauty, and families are bound by
the destructive volcanic eruption of 1973 that displaced thousands.
INTERACTIVE MUSEUMS
One of the most significant eruptions in modern Icelandic history
occurred in Vestmannaeyjar in 1973, burying hundreds of houses in
volcanic ash, and forever changing the population. There’s a won-
derful museum, Eldheimar, that covers the history of the eruption at
Eldfell. The displays are centered on an excavated house which was
WONDROUS VESTMANNAEYJAR
A 35-minute ferry ride from Landeyjahöfn in South Iceland, or a 20-minute flight
from Reykjavík, brings you to a charming island steeped in history and offering a
lot of sights and activities, ranging from museums to hiking and cycling.
SPECIAL PROMOTION