The isolated volcanic island of Surtsey, which emerged dramatically from the Atlantic Ocean due to underwater volcanic eruptions between 1963 and 1967, is a pristine UNESCO natural laboratory belonging to which nation?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Iceland
- Step 1: Surtsey emerged 32 kilometers south of Iceland's southern coastline from 1963 to 1967, named after the mythological fire jötunn Surtr.
- Step 2: Protected from human interference since its birth to allow pristine colonization by vascular plants and seabirds, it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2008.
Answer
Iceland
Why not the others: 'Norway' Norway owns Jan Mayen and the Svalbard archipelago; 'Denmark' Denmark holds sovereignty over the Faroe Islands and Greenland; 'United Kingdom' The UK owns Tristan da Cunha and the Hebrides.
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