Surtsey is a truly unique piece of land in Iceland that was formed in 1963
It emerged after a huge volcanic eruption that has lasted for 3 years
What makes this island so intriguing is not only its formation but the fact that nobody is permitted to enter
The main purpose of Surtsey is to better understand how an ecosystem forms itself from scratch, without any human impact
There are only a couple of scientists that are allowed on the island’s premises, making it one of a few forbidden places on earth
Before entering this island, every scientist is carefully checked so they won’t carry any foreign seeds in on themselves
One story that received a lot of attention was when a tomato starting growing on the island’s premises, leaving scientists stumped
Turns out somebody disobeyed the island’s laws and pooped on some lava
The tomato had to be immediately removed so it wouldn’t disturb the scientific research
One of the first native plants to grow on the island without outside interference was moss
Fulmar and guillemot were the first species to inhabit the island
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