The birth of an island from nothing
The World Heritage List includes many sites in the world, including Surtsey Island, in Iceland. Surtsey is a small volcanic island located off the southern coast of Iceland. It is considered one of the newest islands to appear on the surface of the Earth, as it was formed as a result of an undersea volcanic eruption in 1963.
The story of Surtsey Island began in 1963, when a series of volcanic eruptions began under the surface of the Atlantic Ocean near the southern coast of Iceland. These eruptions continued for several years, causing lava and pumice to accumulate, reaching the surface of the sea and forming a new island.
• Name: The island was named after Surtr, one of the giants in Norse mythology associated with fire.
Natural laboratory
Surtsey is an important natural laboratory for studying biological processes and ecological evolution. Since they were not inhabited by humans, this allowed scientists to observe how life colonized entirely new islands without human intervention.
• The first living organisms: Life on the island began gradually shortly after the volcanic eruption stopped, with algae and fungi appearing first, followed by plants and animals such as birds and insects.
• Long-term studies: The island is still the subject of intense scientific study, where the evolution of its ecosystems, flora and fauna is monitored.
Surtsey has become an ideal place for scientists to study how life colonizes an entirely new environment. They were able to observe the changes that occurred on the island over time, And how plants and animals began to settle there, from bacteria to birds and small vertebrates.
Due to its unique scientific importance, UNESCO has included Surtsey Island on the World Heritage List. It is a living example of the geological and biological processes that shape our planet.
• Protected site: Surtsey has been declared a protected site, a nature reserve where visiting the island is prohibited without special permission. Only authorized scientists have access to study environmental changes.
International recognition
• World Heritage: In 2008, UNESCO listed Surtsey Island as a World Heritage Site due to its unique scientific importance.
Surtsey represents a vivid example of how new islands and ecosystems can be formed from scratch, and provides exceptional opportunities to understand the natural processes that occur in such unique environments.
Source: websites