Surtsey Island, Iceland

In Iceland, there is also a place that is highly undesirable to visit. That’s the Surtsey island. It was formed quite recently, during the eruption of an underwater volcano in 1963. The site immediately caught the attention of scientists. For more than 50 years, it remains a place of scientific experiments and studies. The island is 2.7 square km. For scientists, it is a visual model of the appearance of the volcanic island and origin of the life on it.

Now, the scientists observe how the life is developed on the island. The first bacteria has colonized it in only a few hours after the onset of the volcanic pumice over the water. Access to the island is prohibited to unauthorized persons, although it doesn’t show a direct threat to life and health. Casual visitors can jeopardize the purity of one of the most important experiments in the history of the mankind. Continuing their research, scientists expect to shed light on the theory of the origin of life on Earth, which still hides many mysteries.

Surtsey is a unique nook of the world, almost completely protected from people. Already in the early years, birds have been attracted to the volcanic island. Plant seeds fell to the ground with their droppings. It’s possible to detect some forms of plants and mosses and lichens on the island. Spiders, worms, flies, and various types of beetles are among its main inhabitants. They attract birds to the island. Tourists can’t set a foot on the island, but anyone can admire it from afar during a boat ride. Next - Beelitz Heilstatten Hospital