The Fagradalsfjadl volcano, which has woken up in Iceland, has been put up for sale. Soon this place may become one of the most popular among tourists.
According to Bloomberg, the land on which the volcano woke up in March is now owned by the local Gudmundsdottir family. One family member, Anna Tordis Gudmundsdottir, said the plot was being sold “at a reasonable price” and two offers had already been received. She did not specify the price.
According to the woman, the land belonged to her family for several generations. In recent years, the owners thought about selling the plot but still did not get rid of it. As noted by Gudmundsdottir’s cousin, Sigurdur Gujon Gislason, now anyone can buy both the entire land plot as a whole and its part.
The Icelandic authorities do not plan to buy the land with the volcano. But Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir has previously said that the government has allocated 70 million kronor (more than $560,000) from the budget to create the necessary tourist infrastructure at the site.
But at the same time, the owners were asked not to close access to the volcano to everyone who wants to see it. Against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, some landowners in the country have begun to claim their right to charge tourists who come to attractions located on private land.
Bloomberg suggested that the awakened Fagradalsfjadl could become one of the most popular tourist destinations. Moreover, it is located just an hour’s drive from the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik. According to geologists, the eruption of the volcano may continue for several more years.
The Fagradalsfjadl volcano woke up on the evening of March 19. Before that, the last time it erupted was in the 12th century. The place immediately became popular with the local population and tourists. Against the background of the mountain, the singer Bjork and the Icelandic band Kaleo shot music videos.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Iceland, like some other countries, took unconventional measures to attract tourists. In particular, the local authorities have developed long-term visas for foreigners and their families who want to come to the country and work remotely. But the main obstacle for potential “tourists” was the income issue — applicants must earn more than $7,000 a month.
