The ‘volcano tourists’ that vied to catch Iceland eruptions 

Witness the spectacular lava flows of Iceland's recent volcanic eruption & explore the diverse eruptions of the island's 30+ active volcanoes.

As the glowing river of lava from a volcano that erupted last week in Iceland ebbed, not everyone was happy.

Hazel Lane, a 49-year-old dental practice manager in London, had booked a ticket to Reykjavik as soon as she saw footage of the eruption on television, hoping to witness spectacular lava flows beneath molten red skies.

Lane had already visited Iceland the previous month, but it was too soon. Although authorities had by that time evacuated the nearly 4,000 inhabitants of the nearby town of Grindavik, weeks passed before the volcano - which lies about 40 km (25 miles) southwest of Reykjavik - erupted on Dec. 18.

“I had a crazy notion of going to Reykjavik for the day to fly over the volcanic eruption,” Lane said. She arrived with her son and his girlfriend on Dec. 22 to find that lava flows had already diminished.

“We’re disappointed that the volcanic activity has ceased but we will still have a beautiful day in Reykjavik.”

Lane will probably not have to wait long before the next eruption. Iceland, which is roughly the size of the U.S. state of Kentucky and has fewer than 400,000 residents, boasts more than 30 active volcanoes.

That makes the north European island a prime destination for volcano tourism - a niche segment that attracts thousands of thrill seekers every year to sites from Mexico and Guatemala, to Sicily, Indonesia and New Zealand.