Heimaey

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Heimaey

Heimaey in February 2009. Looking north-east
Geography
Location	Iceland
Coordinates	63°26′N 20°16′W / 63.433°N 20.267°W / 63.433; -20.267
Archipelago	Vestmannaeyjar
Total islands	15
Area	13.4 km2 (5.2 sq mi)
Highest elevation	200 m (700 ft)
Highest point	Heimaklettur
Administration
Iceland
Demographics
Population	4,500

Heimaey

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Heimaey off southwest Iceland

Heimaey (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈheiːmaˌeiː] ^ⓘ), is an Icelandic island. At 13.4 square kilometres (5.2 sq mi), it is the largest island in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago, and the largest and most populated island off the Icelandic coast. Heimaey is 4 nautical miles (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) off the south coast of Iceland. It is the only populated island of the Vestmannaeyjar islands, with a population of 4,414.^[1] The Vestmannaeyjar Airport and the Westman Islands Golf Club taken together cover a good portion of the island.

In January 1973, lava flow from nearby Eldfell destroyed half the town and threatened to close its harbour, its main income source. An operation to cool the advancing lava with sea water saved the harbour.