A New Island Rose From the Sea in Iceland, But Everyone Except Scientists is Banned From Setting Foot. Here's Why.

A barren stretch of volcanic rock rising from the Atlantic Ocean may not sound like one of the world's most protected places, yet almost nobody is allowed to set foot on Iceland's Surtsey island. There are no permanent residents, hotels or tourist attractions, and even scientists need special permission to visit. Formed by an undersea volcanic eruption, Surtsey is one of the few places on Earth where researchers have been able to watch an ecosystem develop entirely from scratch.