Netflix’s new disaster series La Palma is currently the #1 show in the US. As you watch, you may be wondering if La Palma is based on a true story and the question of whether the extremely active and dangerous Cumbre Vieja volcano actually exists.

Limited to four episodes, the series is set on the island of La Palma and follows a young scientist, a team of geological researchers and a family of four as they confront a volcanic eruption that has the potential to cause a global catastrophe.

Despite warning signs – including a fatal boating accident and a series of earthquakes – geologists Marie and Haukur uncover evidence that an impending eruption could wreak havoc far beyond the island. Now they have to convince their boss Álvaro to take their findings seriously before it’s too late. So how much of it La Palma is real, and what is fiction? Here’s what you should know while watching.

Is La Palma Based on a true story?

NO, La Palma is not based on a true story. However, La Palma is a real place – one of Spain’s Canary Islands, located off the west coast of Africa. This Spanish territory is home to the Cumbre Vieja, the most active volcanic ridge in the Canary Islands.

The Cumbre Vieja has experienced several eruptions, the most recent occurring in 2021. The eruption lasted three months and caused significant damage. It destroyed “around 3,000 buildings, buried banana plantations and vineyards, destroyed irrigation systems and cut off roads,” NPR reported at the time.

Fortunately, no injuries or deaths have been directly attributed to the eruption. Before 2021, the Cumbre Vieja last erupted in 1971 and 1949.

Could Cumbre Vieja trigger a tsunami in the Atlantic?

The theory that Cumbre Vieja on La Palma could trigger a massive tsunami in the Atlantic goes back to a study published in 2001 Geophysical Research Letters. However, the majority of scientists agree that such a catastrophic event is highly unlikely.

The hypothesis is that a large volcanic eruption could cause a large portion of the western flank of Cumbre Vieja to fall into the Atlantic Ocean. This landslide could trigger a mega-tsunami, potentially affecting the east coast of North America, parts of Europe and West Africa.

However, studies published after the journal’s 2001 publication reduced the threat highlighted in the article. George Pararas-Carayannis, editor of the magazine science of tsunami dangers, wrote in a study the following year: “The risk of mega-tsunamis arising from collapses of oceanic island stratovolcanoes has been greatly overstated. No mega-tsunamis are expected.”

Where was La Palma Filmed?

The Netflix series La Palma was filmed on location in the real La Palma, the westernmost of Spain’s Canary Islands. La Palma, known as “Isla Bonita,” is a popular destination for nature lovers and offers scenic hiking trails, volcanic landscapes and beautiful beaches that attract tourists from around the world.

In addition to La Palma, some scenes were also filmed on the nearby island of Tenerife The direct one. Tenerife is the most visited island in the Canary Archipelago and attracts over five million tourists every year.

The series also shows the interior of the luxury resort Isla Bonita and H10 Taburiente Playa, which serves as the backdrop for many exterior shots. In the beach scenes, viewers see Playa de la Arena, while La Palma Airport also plays a key role as a hub for visitors and rescue workers arriving and departing from the island.

La Palma was created by Martin Sundland, Lars Gudmestad and Harald Rosenløw Eeg and directed by Kasper Barfoed. The show was co-written by Gudmestad and Rosenløw Eeg and stars Anders Baasmo Christiansen, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Alma Günther, Bernard Storm Lager, Thea Sofie Loch Næss, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson and Jorge de Juan.

La Palma is streaming on Netflix. Check out the official trailer below.