Is ‘La Palma’ on Netflix based on a true story? What is real vs. False

Netflix’s new disaster series La Palma is currently number 1 in the U.S. As you watch, you may find yourself wondering if La Palma is based on a true story and whether the very active and dangerous Cumbre Vieja volcano actually exists.

Set on the island of La Palma, the four-episode limited series follows a young scientist, a team of geological researchers and a family of four as they face a volcanic eruption with the potential to trigger a global catastrophe.

Despite warning signs—including a fatal boat 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 La Palma is real and what is fiction? Here’s what you need to know while you watch.

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 area is home to Cumbre Vieja, the most active volcanic ridge in the Canary Islands.

Cumbre Vieja has experienced several eruptions, with the most recent occurring in 2021. The eruption lasted three months and caused extensive damage, destroying “around 3,000 buildings, burying banana plantations and vineyards, destroying irrigation systems and cutting off roads,” NPR reported at the time.

Fortunately, no injuries or deaths were directly attributed to the outbreak. Before 2021, 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 Ocean stems from a 2001 study published in Geophysical Research Letters. However, the majority of scientists agree that such a catastrophic event is highly unlikely.

The hypothesis suggests that during a major volcanic eruption, a large part of the western flank of Cumbre Vieja could collapse into the Atlantic Ocean. This landslide could generate a mega-tsunami, potentially affecting the eastern coasts of North America, parts of Europe and West Africa.

However, studies published after the 2001 journal downplayed the threat highlighted in the paper. George Pararas-Carayannis, editor of the journal Science of Tsunami Hazards, wrote in a study the following year: “The threat of megatsunami generation from the collapse of stratovolcanoes on oceanic islands has been greatly overestimated. No megatsunamis can be expected.”

Where was La Palma filmed?

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

In addition to La Palma, some scenes were filmed on the nearby island of Tenerife, according to The direct. Tenerife is the most visited island in the Canary Islands and attracts over five million tourists annually.

The series also features the interior of the Isla Bonita luxury resort and H10 Taburiente Playa, which serves as the backdrop for many exterior shots. For the beach scenes, viewers will see Playa de la Arena, while La Palma Airport also plays a key role as a hub for visitors and emergency crews arriving and leaving the island.

La Palma is created by Martin Sundland, Lars Gudmestad and Harald Rosenløw Eeg, and directed by Kasper Barfoed. The show was 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, Jorge de Juan in the main roles.

La Palma streaming on Netflix. Watch the official trailer below.