Awakening

• Photographer
  Marco Di Marco
• Photo Date
  November 20th, 2024

The dramatic onset of the 7th eruptive episode of the 2023–2025 Svartsengi eruption unfolded on November 21, 2024, in southwest Iceland. Like the previous events, it began with a several-kilometer fissure sending torrents of lava across the landscape. Here, a 2.5 km-long lava flow advances from a 4 km fissure visible in the background. The eruption’s effusion rate was estimated at 1,500 cubic meters of lava per second, a reminder of the immense power driving this ongoing volcanic cycle.

Marco Di Marco is an Iceland-based photographer and videomaker with a background in geology, focusing on volcanic eruptions and Arctic landscapes. His work, distributed worldwide by the Associated Press, has been featured in The New York Times, CNN, BBC, ABC, NBC, CBS, Corriere della Sera, Rai, and other major outlets across print, television, and digital media. Recognized with awards including TIME’s Top 10 Photos of the Year and NPPA honors, Marco’s practice brings together scientific awareness and visual storytelling to share the evolving character of nature.