Fri, April 02, 2010
The eruption of a volcano beneath the Eyjafjallajokull Glacier in southern Iceland is turning into a tourist attraction -- as magma fountains and flows of molten rock produce spectacular views.
The volcano had been quiet for 200 years before it suddenly came back to life on March 21.
Vulcanologist Armann Hoskuldsson is with the University of Iceland.
SOUNDBITE: (Icelandic) ARMANN HOSKULDSSON, VULCANOLOGIST, UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND, SAYING:
"Well we were so pleasantly fortunate when we came here to witness the opening of a new fissure and the power is steadily increasing as we can see here. When we came here these were just small columns of lava and smoke but we can see they are steadily stretching higher."
Scientists say the eruption does not pose a threat to local residents but there are fears it could provoke an eruption of the nearby larger and more dangerous Katla volcano.
Iceland lies on a volcanic hotspot and is prone to eruptions.
(Reuters)
