Nýey (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈniːˌeiː]), Nýeyjar [ˈniːˌeiːjar̥], Nyø (Danish), was a small, uninhabited island that formed in 1783 due to an underwater eruption in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge southwest of Reykjanes, Iceland. It disappeared within a year.[1][2][3]
History
The formation of "Nýeyjar" began on May 1, 1783. It attracted a lot of attention and some connected it to the 1783 Calabrian earthquakes.[1][3]
The captain of a 'small ship' ("is: húkkerta") that sailed in the area, wrote in his diary about a burning island 15.7 km (9.8 mi) due southwest of Geirfuglasker. He tried to observe it but had to stay over half a mile away, due to the poisonous sulphurous smoke.[1][2][3]
King Christian VII of Denmark named the island "Nýey", ordered an expedition to it, and dedicated it to the monarchy with a Danish flag. He also planned for an inscribed stone to be placed on the island.[1][2][3]
It had disappeared by the summer of 1784, when Magnús Stephensen (Lawyer and Supreme Court Judge), planned to dedicate it to the king whilst en route to Copenhagen.[1][2][3]
See also
- Eldeyjarboði a nearby eruptive skerry on the same ridge.
- List of volcanic eruptions in Iceland
- Volcanism of Iceland
- Geology of Iceland
- List of volcanoes in Iceland
- Geological deformation of Iceland
Sources
- Vísindavefurinn : " How common are new islands in eruptions? “ (Vísindavefurinn|5044|Hversu algengt er að nýjar eyjar verði til í eldgosum?)[1]
References
63°29′25″N 23°48′9″W / 63.49028°N 23.80250°W