I have never thought I would ever have an opportunity to see an erupting volcano. I have never thought that watching a volcano eruption is such a mesmerizing experience and such a nice way to celebrate the end of COVID-19 travel restrictions.
The hike to see Fagradalsfjall volcano crater is about 4 km long. Part of it is a steep climb up multiple hills and requires good hiking boots. We also used hiking poles, which helped tremendously on our way back down.
The first part of the hike leads to a freshly formed lava field in Nátthagi valley. The hike to the valley is very easy and short.
When we got there, the lava in the valley was not glowing but rather smoking. There were a lot of people walking around the field and many took pieces of lava as souvenirs.
However, underneath the rocks, lava is still hot and glowing.
The second part of the hike is about 2 km long, and this is where we had to walk uphill almost all the time except at the end. We started hiking around 8 PM, and by 8:30pm we got to the Nátthagi valley. By around 9:15pm we got to the viewpoint from which we could watch the crater.
The best part of watching the eruption was the sunset. Lava started flowing down the valley and the sky turned yellowish, then orange red. Very pretty.
Ahead of us, halfway between our viewpoint and the volcano, we could see a helicopter deposit what looked like a group of tourists onto the top of a hill closer to the volcano. Another trail used to lead there until a few weeks ago (June 2021), but it was eventually cut off when the lava surrounded the hill completely.
The volcano eruption captured most attention, but surrounding landscape looked dramatic as well, perhaps like a backdrop landscape from an epic fantasy movie.
On the way back we stopped at the lava field in Nátthagi valley. By then, the burning lava started flowing down the valley.
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