Surtsey

Ever heard of a four year eruption? Icelandic volcano Surtsey blew up over the course of a four year period from 1963 to 1967, prompting major ecological changes. To this day, scientists are the only humans allowed access to the remote location so that the island can undergo natural ecological succession. Scientists have found that since the end of the eruption, the island has been steadily losing height. If it continues at this rate, the island will be mostly below sea level by 2100. In 1965, it was declared a nature reserve while the eruption was still ongoing. Fast forward to 2008, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in order to acknowledge its scientific value.