The eruption of the Icelandic volcano Grimsvotn (part 1)

In Iceland, the eruption of the active volcano — Grimsvotn. The height of a column of steam and ash have already reached the 20-kilometer mark. However, according to experts, the eruption will not cause significant problems for air travel. Much worse is that underneath is the glacier.

(Just 20 photos)

1. The Grimsvotn volcano, which lies under the ice of the uninhabited glacier Vatnajokull, South-East Iceland, began erupting Saturday, may 21, for the first time since 2004. This was the largest eruption of this volcano over the last 100 years. (AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

2. A column of ash of Grimsvotn volcano, about 200 km East of the capital of Iceland is Reykjavik, painted the sky in black and crumbled into nearby buildings, cars and fields. (AP)

3. Rescuers help farmers to have animals in the shelter. Authorities strictly advised residents to wear masks and unnecessarily not to leave the house. (AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

4. Meteorological office of great Britain announced that the ashes of the volcano had spread mainly to the North-East, but part of the ash spread South and East, to the skies over Northern Europe. Where does he go after that, depends on the density of the eruption and weather conditions. (AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

5. Scientists say that the eruption will not be as global as was the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano 130 km, resulting in 10 million passengers stuck at airports. (EPA)

6. Icelandic air traffic control ISAVIA established a 220-kilometer no-fly zone around the volcano, closed Keflavik airport and canceled all domestic flights. (AP)

7. Keflavik airport was forced to cancel about 40 international flights. (AP)

8. Geophysicist at University of Iceland Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson said that this eruption of the volcano "is much stronger and more intense" than last year, and 10 times stronger than the last eruption Grimsvotn in 2004. (AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

9. "In the South-East of Iceland, most of the territory was plunged in almost total darkness, everything was covered with ashes, he says. But it applies not so much. The winds are not as strong as last year." (REUTERS)

10. The tourists leave the hotel "Islandia Hotel" in Nupure where the sky continuously pours the ashes. (AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

11. In 2004, Grimsvotn eruption lasted several days and prevented several international flights. The volcano also erupted in 1998, 1996 and 1993. (REUTERS)

12. Sparsely populated Iceland is one of the most geologically unstable countries, it is located on both sides of the mid-Atlantic ridge, where the Eurasian and North American continental layers RUB against each other. (REUTERS)

13. Frequent earthquakes push magma from under the earth's surface, so that the eruptions here – a thing frequent. The ground is covered by hardened black lava from previous eruptions. (AP)

14. A sample of the ashes in anticipation of research in the command center in one of the Icelandic towns, where the authorities are prepared to take measures to eliminate the consequences of the eruption. (REUTERS)

15. Footprints in the strewn ashes on the surface at a gas station in Reykjavik. (REUTERS)

16. Volcanic eruptions in Iceland often cause flooding from melting glaciers, but the loss of lives from the eruption almost none. Usually these eruptions affect only local areas, but they often attract the attention of people from all over the world. (AP)

17. Geophysicist Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson said that the ashes of the volcano Grimsvotn is much rougher compared to the eruption last year, and to earth he falls more often. (REUTERS)

18. A farmer preparing to make a flock of sheep in the shelter in Malakote. (REUTERS)

19. Dead bird on highway 1 in the South-East of Iceland. (REUTERS)

20. A column of smoke and ashes of the volcano Grimsvotn. (REUTERS)