Surtsey formed from a volcanic eruption south of Iceland beginning in 1963.
The eruption started on 14 November 1963 beneath the sea near the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago. Eruptive activity continued until 1967, building a new island that reached about 1.3 square kilometres at its greatest size. The island was named Surtsey after Surtr, a fire giant in Norse mythology.
Surtsey became a protected natural laboratory. Scientists restricted access so they could observe how plants, insects, birds, and other organisms colonised land created from scratch. In 2008, UNESCO designated Surtsey a World Heritage Site because of its scientific importance.
Surtsey is the island’s name, while the eruption is commonly described as the Surtsey eruption or the 1963–1967 submarine eruption. Iceland has several better-known volcanoes, including Hekla and Katla, but neither created this famous new island. Waves and erosion have steadily reduced Surtsey’s area since the eruption ended.