Heimaey is the largest island in the Vestmannaeyjar cluster, approximately 4 nautical miles off the south coast of Iceland. Currently Vestmannaeyjar is the home to around two million puffins, and many millions of other birds. At around one in the morning on January 23, 1973, a volcanic eruption of the mountain Eldfell began on Heimaey. The eruption lasted until July. The encroaching lava almost destroyed the harbor, but it was saved by constantly spraying cold seawater.