The tiny village of Flateyri in Önundarfjörður in the Westfjords of Iceland is surrounded by spectacular scenery. However, dangers lurk in this idyllic setting. On October 25, 1995, a deadly avalanche rolled over the settlement burying homes and killing 20. (The population of the village is only ~200.)
The panorama below was taken around 1:15 am. The quality of light was not to my satisfaction and there was howling wind to contend with. The camera was mounted on the pano rig made by Really Right Stuff.
Notice the ‘deflecting wall’ in the foreground (around 1/3 of the way in), erected after the fatal avalanche. Click on the photo to fire up a larger view.
Flateyri
5D Mark II, Zeiss ZE 50 f/2 MP
Click on image for a larger view
See this short video clip from NOVA that talks about the Flateyri avalanche.
©2006, 1997 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved.
Adapted from NOVA: “Avalanche!”. A NOVA Production by the WGBH/Boston Science Unit in association with La Cinquieme and Sveriges Television. Stock footage courtesy of Icelandic National Television Service, 365 Media/Channel 2 Iceland, and Stephen Kroschel. Animation courtesy of David Woolard and Paul McGeoch, Pictures on the Wall.
This resource was adapted from NOVA: “Avalanche!”
Teachers’ Domain Collection funded by National Science Foundation.
by Rajan P. Parrikar
I remember this night !
I envy you, you get so good photos.
This is one of them.
Nice shot and background information. I like the picnic table in the foreground.