Is Netflix's La Palma Based on a True Story? All About the Real-Life Island’s Active Volcano — and the Last Time It Erupted

Netflix’s La Palma: Fact vs Fiction — The Real Island, Its Volcano, and the 2021 EruptionIn News:

Netflix’s 2024 four-part disaster series La Palma has reignited public curiosity about the real island of La Palma and its still-active volcano, Cumbre Vieja. While the show dramatizes a catastrophic “mega-tsunami” triggered by a volcanic collapse, the storyline is fictional — yet grounded in real scientific discussions and recent volcanic history.

Key Facts:

La Palma is one of Spain’s Canary Islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean off northwest Africa. Known as “Isla Bonita” (Beautiful Island), it features volcanic terrain, pine forests, and observatories ideal for stargazing.
The island’s volcano, Cumbre Vieja, is part of the Canary Volcanic Arc, and remains active.
In September 2021, Cumbre Vieja erupted for 85 days and 8 hours, marking the longest eruption ever recorded on the island.
The eruption destroyed over 3,000 properties, devastated banana plantations, and forced 7,000 evacuations, though no fatalities were reported.
The volcano emitted toxic gases, lava flows, and volcanic ash that caused La Palma Airport to temporarily close.
The eruption officially ended on December 25, 2021, after the last tremors were detected on December 13.

The “Mega-Tsunami” Theory:

In the Netflix show, geologists discover that a volcanic collapse could generate a massive ocean-wide wave — a mega-tsunami capable of reaching multiple continents.
This theory originated from a 2001 scientific paper suggesting that a flank collapse of Cumbre Vieja might create waves up to 80 feet high reaching the Americas.
However, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has since debunkedthe extreme version of this theory.
- Updated tsunami models indicate that collapses occur gradually, producing waves only 3–7 feet high by the time they reach distant shores.
Thus, while such an event is theoretically possible, the “continent-destroying wave” depicted in the show remains scientifically unlikely.

Filming and Real-World Parallels:

La Palma was filmed largely on the actual island, with scenes shot at Playa de la Arena, the Isla Bonita resort, and the La Palma Airport, which itself was shut down during the 2021 eruption.
Additional filming took place on the neighboring island of Tenerife.
The eruption site, now known as Tajogaite Volcano, continues to emit gases, reminding scientists and locals that volcanic activity on La Palma is ongoing.

Static Part — Key Concepts:

Volcano:

An opening in the Earth’s crust through which molten rock (magma), ash, and gases are expelled. Volcanoes form primarily at tectonic plate boundaries.Types of Volcanoes:

Shield Volcano: Broad, gentle slopes formed by low-viscosity lava flows (e.g., Mauna Loa, Hawaii).
Stratovolcano (Composite): Steep-sided, layered volcanoes with both explosive and effusive eruptions (e.g., Cumbre Vieja, La Palma).
Cinder Cone: Small, steep volcanoes built from pyroclastic fragments.

Tsunami vs. Mega-Tsunami:

A tsunami is a series of ocean waves caused by underwater disturbances (earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic activity).
A mega-tsunami refers to an exceptionally large wave caused by a massive landslide or volcanic collapse; such events are extremely rare and often localized.

Updated - December 19, 2024 11:00AM | https://people.com/la-palma-true-story-8763080