Oblique aerial view looking north-northwestwards of the island of Heimaey, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, in August 1966,

Oblique aerial view looking north-northwestwards of the island of Heimaey, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, in August 1966, showing the fishing town of Vestmannaeyjar, the east-west-trending harbor in the background, and the extinct volcano Helgafell rising to 741 ft in the right center of the island. On January 23, 1973, lava began to pour from a 0.9-mi north-northwest-trending fissure to the east (right) of Helgafell. Eldfell eventually grew to be similar in height to Helgafell, 0.6 mi to the northeast.

View on July 23, 1973, north across homes partially buried by tephra in the eastern part of Vestmannaeyjar. The lava flows loom in the background. Gases that are moving through the tephra rise from the house on the right. The houses were eventually exhumed and restored.

View on July 23, 1973, southeast from dock area in the northern part of Vestmannaeyjar toward edge of lava flow where it stopped against and between two fish-factory buildings. Two boys can be seen in the right background sweeping up the tephra. By July 1974 the lava had been completely removed and restoration of the factories had begun.

View on July 7, 1974, southeast from dock area in the northern part of Vestmannaeyjar after removal of lava flow which had stopped against and between two fish-factory buildings.

View to the south from Vestmannaeyjar's outer harbor on May 4, 1975. Seawater is being sprayed directly onto the lava flow front to arrest infilling of the harbor entrance.

A panoramic view east-southeast across the fishing port of Vestmannaeyjar on May 5, 1973. Dark, tephra-covered ground is apparent, with lava flows into the town and harbor in the left background.A panoramic view east-southeast across the fishing port of Vestmannaeyjar on May 5, 1973. Dark, tephra-covered ground is apparent, with lava flows into the town and harbor in the left background.

A panoramic view east-southeast across the fishing port of Vestmannaeyjar on May 5, 1973. Dark, tephra-covered ground is apparent, with lava flows into the town and harbor in the left background.

On May 4, 1973, workmen laid additional pipes to carry seawater up onto the lava flow front and tephra bulwark to cool and harden the still-flowing lava behind the chilled lava margin.

On May 4, 1973, workmen laid additional pipes to carry seawater up onto the lava flow front and tephra bulwark to cool and harden the still-flowing lava behind the chilled lava margin.

Oblique aerial view in early March 1973 of Heimaey, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland. Steam rises from lava-cooling operations on land and from lava entering the sea (photo by Gudmundur Sigfússon. Courtesy of Sólarfilma).Oblique aerial view in early March 1973 of Heimaey, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland. Steam rises from lava-cooling operations on land and from lava entering the sea (photo by Gudmundur Sigfússon. Courtesy of Sólarfilma).

Oblique aerial view in early March 1973 of Heimaey, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland. Steam rises from lava-cooling operations on land and from lava entering the sea (photo by Gudmundur Sigfússon. Courtesy of Sólarfilma).

View of Heimaey before the eruption: Town of Vestmannaeyjar with Helgafell in the right background (photo courtesy of Sólarfilma).View of Heimaey before the eruption: Town of Vestmannaeyjar with Helgafell in the right background (photo courtesy of Sólarfilma).

View of Heimaey before the eruption: Town of Vestmannaeyjar with Helgafell in the right background (photo courtesy of Sólarfilma).

View on July 23, 1973, looking north toward a house engulfed by the March lava flow on the eastern part of Vestmannaeyjar.

View on July 23, 1973, looking north toward a house engulfed by the March lava flow on the eastern part of Vestmannaeyjar.

A photo of Reykjavik and the harbour, with Mount Esja in the background, taken during the summer of 1946