Grindavik is lost

Updated: Jan 28

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The town was built around 934 when Viking Settlers came to Iceland. Most notably Landnáma or The Book of Settlements mentions that around 934, two Viking settlers, Molda-Gnúpur Hrólfsson [ˈmɔltaˌknuːpʏr ˈr̥oulsˌsɔːn] and Þórir Haustmyrkur Vígbjóðsson [ˈθouːrɪr ˈhœystˌmɪr̥kʏr ˈviɣˌpjouðsˌsɔːn], arrived in the Reykjanes area. Þórir settled in Selvogur and Krísuvík and Molda-Gnúpur in Grindavík. - Wikipedia

The town of course, grew into a historic fishing village, where fishing was it's primary source of both income and export. No one expected the village to be lost in the manner in which it has been but mother nature, known as Gaia to many, always has her own plans of how things of this world, will pan out. And sadly, for Grindavik, it's fate was sealed the moment the town was established in a volcanic system.

Back then, many may not of understood how tectonics worked, or how volcanoes themselves worked. No one really understood how there were thousands of volcanoes seemingly encircling the Pacific Ocean with a few others dotted here and there, often miles away from any known fault system (Yellowstone being one such case). But then, researchers discovered the Ring of Fire in 2007, a seismically active hot zone, known for it's violent earthquakes and violent volcanic eruptions.

In this discovery, Iceland, they discovered, like Africa, was being literally ripped apart by the plates moving away from each other. Often, this ripping apart resulted in violent earthquakes and even more violent eruptions like the Laki eruption in 1783 - 1784 which lasted close to 8 months and spewed enough ash into the atmosphere that it caused a pandemic in the UK with a volcanic haze that was even seen as far away as Syria.

And as a student in this field, myself and many others have hoped and prayed alongside the residents of Grindavik. We'd hoped for a better outcome. That perhaps only half of the town would be lost. That perhaps they could demolish the 'danger zone' and leave at least some of the town habitable. But in recent days, the Icelandic Government has been pushed by residents to buy them out. That they, the people of Grindavik, have, in effect, seen the writing on the wall for what it is; the town is lost and there's no amount of sugar coating the words spewed by those within the scientific community, that'll make this fact, any less deniable. And many firmly believe, the town was doomed right from the start, when the 2021 eruption of the Fagradalsfjall volcano erupted, thus announcing to everyone who cared to listen, that the entire region had woken up from it's 600 - 800 years of rest.

In recent days, the predictions from scientists have become more and more dark. And then finally, someone said it; the town is lost.

I, as a fellow human being, can't imagine the absolute heartbreak the people must be feeling. This is their home. This is where many were born and grew up, raised their family and so on. I'm willing to bet, everyone knew everyone despite the town having an astounding population of 3,669 people. I'm willing to bet, these people loved their town and were hoping and praying for a better outcome. How do you tell someone "sorry but the town you've known all your life, is lost. You need to move." How do we, as a scientific community, make it sound so...easy, when the reality is, it's far from easy.

There is decades of history, culture, a way of life and living that's now being uprooted and in the blink of an eye no less. Whenever I've had to move, I've always dreaded it. I've enjoyed the prospect of starting a new life somewhere else, of exploring that new area, but the mere idea of packing up boxes, of loading up my animals, of updating my legal information, this is the nightmare I wish I could avoid. I can't imagine being a town of nearly 4k people, and having to do this. Of even possibly being told, I can't go back for the items, I've had to leave behind because it's simply too dangerous to do so.

No amount of apology, no amount of understanding, will make those who lived in this town, feel any less heartbroken. This isn't just the history and culture that they've lost; it's their livelihoods, their way of life, and ultimately, it's their home that they've lost.

I used to tell those facing troubling times that 'dark days don't last forever' but in this, how can I say something that sounds so positive, when I know that this volcanic activity could go on for decades, long after many of the original people of Grindavik have passed on? I can't and won't tell you this. Because in the end, these dark days for Grindavik have just begun. The countless hours of trying to find a suitable place to resettle, the money that it's going to cost just to do this, alone, is staggering.

It's not as simple as picking up one's house, place of business, or your fishing vessel and saying "hey I'm going to move 1500 miles north!" this costs money and it's money many may not have. Many were more than likely waiting on the Winter Fishing season which, sadly, began just as the volcanic activity around Grindavik began to pick up. And now? All of this is now a memory, or soon will be.

To the people of Grindavik, I truly wish I could say something that would make what you're feeling, how you're feeling, feel right and feel better, but I can't. There are no words to say, that'll make how you're feeling right now, the feeling of anger, hopelessness and loss, feel any less than it does right now. But in this, I want you to know, that Grindavik's story, it's history, it's culture, everything that made it Grindavik, has not been forgotten nor lost. No matter where you go, that history, that culture, it goes wherever you go. And while yes, it's not the same, it'll never be the same, the location doesn't define who you are. It doesn't define your history or culture. It might of, once long ago, but not today. So take that culture, take that history and take your town's story and your part you played, with you. Take it to the new location and make it Grinadvik. Make her original founders proud because believe me, they are so very proud of how resilient you have been in the face of this adversary.

The Gods themselves smile because they placed this, we'll call it a road block, in your path, just to see how strong you could be and you have proven, once and for all, for all the world to see, just how strong you are. Weep for the loss of your home location, that is your right. But do not weep for the loss of your culture or history because it still survives within you, your memories and those old photographs.

Keep those close to your heart. Let them comfort you in the days, weeks, months and years to come. And someday, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow or next year, but someday, you will see the lights turn back on in old Grindavik again. And perhaps the landscape will have changed, perhaps it won't. Perhaps in a few years time, you'll be able to return. I do not have the answers. I do not answer for how the Hands of Fate twist and turn. I just know, that someday, is a mere blink in our lifetime.

All my love,

Akiba.