In 1973, Icelanders pumped more than 6 million cubic metres of seawater onto lava to protect a fishing harbour, creating a new breakwater

When a volcano erupted on the Icelandic island of Heimaey in January 1973, the immediate concern was not only the homes and streets in its path but also the harbour that supported the island's fishing industry. If lava reached the harbour entrance, it could have disrupted the community's main source of income long after the eruption ended.

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