It was fitting today, in the -10°C frost (14°F) on Reykjanes, that Iceland’s Word of the Year (2024) was “hraunkælingarstjóri” or lava cooling manager. Despite the cold, the day was beautiful on this southern peninsula, located south and west of the capital. Icelandic Times / Land & Saga ventured out to the area to witness the changes, the atmosphere, but above all, the beauty as the sun finally rose ever so slightly above the horizon, in a region that has experienced ten volcanic eruptions in less than four years.
It’s incredible to see and feel the contrast of these conditions—boats arriving in Grindavík with their catch while the town remains largely deserted after over a year of being officially deemed uninhabitable. Meanwhile, the Blue Lagoon adapts, relocating its parking areas to accommodate visitors who come to experience the warm lagoon on top of layers of volcanic rock. Next door, the Svartsengi power plant continues to provide electricity and heat to 10% of Iceland’s population.
It’s a miracle—a marvel of engineering and resilience made possible by bulldozer operators and lava cooling teams, supported by the government and the nation’s people.
Mount Thorbjörn and the Blue Lagoon at midday sun.
Is this a lava cooling manager being interviewed by the barrier just south of Svartsengi?
Reykjanes 08/01/2025 : A7R IV, A7C R – FE 1.8/135mm GM, FE 1.4/24mm GM
Ljósmyndir & texti : Páll Stefánsson
