Westman Islands 1973: Saving the Harbor With Seawater and Living on Lava

A fishing town at the edge of the Arctic, a volcano at its doorstep, and a night when the earth split open. What keeps people here when the ground itself won’t stay still? Join philosopher-host Philippe Simet on Eymae in Iceland’s Westman Islands as residents relive the 1973 eruption that buried 400 homes and nearly sealed the harbor. See where lava was cooled with seawater pumps, why a few houses still stand frozen in ash, and how an engineer turned eruption steam into free heat for a decade. Hike the fresh crater where the island grew by 2.5 km, watch bread baked in hot ground, and meet cliff hunters and sailors who refuse to leave despite storms and quakes. From rebuilt streets to a golf course on new lava, this community finds strength in instability. Discover how people design, adapt, and thrive when nature rewrites the map overnight. Watch now and find out what they did when the lava reached the town’s doorstep—and what they still do today. #WestmanIslands #IcelandVolcano #1973Eruption #Geothermal #Lava #FishingPort #Architecture #Documentary