Master chefs from Hótel Holt in Reykjavík cooked a gourmet volcanic dinner for travelers near the crater on Fimmvörduháls in south Iceland yesterday. The menu was lobster soup and monkfish and lobster spears that were grilled on the glowing hot lava.
Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
The dinner was enjoyed outside in the chilling wind and transformed landscape on Fimmvörduháls. The volcanic restaurant will remain open in the coming days. Special guests at Hótel Holt will be invited to the meals served there as will a few lucky tourists, Fréttabladid reports.
Police and rescue services say people are far too foolhardy at the eruption site. A fence will be erected to keep travelers in a safe distance from the lava flow and prevent accidents that are waiting to happen.
Chairman of the Hella Air Ground Rescue Team, Svanur Saevar Lárusson, told Morgunbladid it is scary to observe how close people go to the flowing lava, especially photographers who seem to want to jump right in.
There are many hazards people must watch out for, Lárusson said. “The lava is flowing under the snow and then it collapses where people were just standing.” He also said it is dangerous to move too close to the edge of the Hrunagil canyon; snow banks can collapse any time.
People can now walk towards the eruption zone from the highland valley of Thórsmörk. Walkers have been asked not to go any further than to the Morinsheidi heath.
However, some people disregarded that request and went as far as Heljarkambur. On the way, walkers have to walk up a snowy slope which can crack and slide forwards. “People appear ready to risk their lives to get a little closer,” Lárusson said.
Rescue services assisted close to 20 cold and exhausted hikers on Fimmvörduháls yesterday. They seemed not to have realized how long and difficult the hike is.
It is assumed that a large number of people will travel to see the eruption during the upcoming Easter weekend.
The travel association Útivist will lead hikes from different locations in cooperation with Reykjavík Excursions, which brings travelers to the starting points. Both longer and shorter hikes will be on offer; two include spending a night at a cabin on Fimmvörduháls.
In Thórsmörk the Icelandic Touring Association will guide, advise and accommodate travelers. There will be scheduled hikes to three locations with a view of the eruption.
Additionally, sightseeing can be undertaken by helicopter (see nordurflug.is and helicopter.is), ski-doo (snow.is) and bus (re.is). Customized tours are also a possibility (nordicvisitor.com).
For prospective eruption travelers it is important to prepare, follow weather forecasts and news about the eruption closely. For further information visit icesar.com, vedur.is and almannavarnir.is.
According to visir.is, the eruption is just as powerful as it was yesterday.
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