Photos: Stunning images show Iceland volcanic eruption from space
After weeks of rumbling, a volcano in Iceland sprang to life this week with lava shooting out of a fissure that is more than 2 miles long.
Volcano erupts in Iceland north of Grindavik
A volcano in Iceland has erupted north of the town of Grindavik after thousands of earthquakes that have been shaking the area since the start of November.
GRINDAVIK, Iceland – Images released Tuesday show what lava spewing from a volcano that erupted in Iceland this week looks like from space.
The volcano has been rumbling for several weeks underneath the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland. The countless earthquakes and shifting ground damaged roads and buildings in and around the town of Grindavik, which was evacuated for several days last month. The activity also prompted the closure of the Blue Lagoon spa, which is popular with tourists.
Maxar, an intelligence company, shared satellite images Tuesday showing the fluorescent orange lava spewing and oozing from the more than 2-mile-long fissure.
SPECTACULAR VIDEOS OF ICELAND VOLCANIC ERUPTION SHOW LAVA SHOOTING HIGH INTO THE AIR
![A snow-covered Grindavik, Iceland, is seen Dec. 19, 2023, as a nearby volcano erupts.]()
Image 1 of 5A snow-covered Grindavik, Iceland, is seen Dec. 19, 2023, as a nearby volcano erupts. (Satellite image ©2023 Maxar Technologies)
![Lava is seen erupting from a volcano near Grindavik, Iceland, on Oct. 19, 2023.]()
Image 2 of 5Lava is seen erupting from a volcano near Grindavik, Iceland, on Oct. 19, 2023. (Satellite image ©2023 Maxar Technologies)
![Grindavik, Iceland (bottom-left) is seen near the lava field of an erupting volcano (top-right) on Dec. 19, 2023.]()
Image 3 of 5Grindavik, Iceland (bottom-left) is seen near the lava field of an erupting volcano (top-right) on Dec. 19, 2023. (Satellite image ©2023 Maxar Technologies)
![Grindavik, Iceland (bottom-left) is seen near the lava field of an erupting volcano (top-right) on Dec. 19, 2023.]()
Image 4 of 5Grindavik, Iceland (bottom-left) is seen near the lava field of an erupting volcano (top-right) on Dec. 19, 2023. (Satellite image ©2023 Maxar Technologies)
![The Svartsengi Power Plant near Grindavik, Iceland, is seen on Dec. 7, 2023, just days before a nearby volcano erupted.]()
Image 5 of 5The Svartsengi Power Plant near Grindavik, Iceland, is seen on Dec. 7, 2023, just days before a nearby volcano erupted. (Satellite image ©2023 Maxar Technologies)
The images also show the snow-covered ground in Grindavik, which officials said is less than 2 miles away from the southern extent of the lava field.
An image taken Dec. 7 shows the Svartsengi Power Plant, which Maxar said is located less than 2 miles southeast of the lava. Crews in Iceland began constructing dikes in early December to protect the geothermal power plant from a likely eruption.