WEST ICELAND
Svalþúfa. Photo: Dimmerinn
Home of Snæfellsjökull National Park Along the coast of Snæfellsness Peninsula in West Iceland lie several small fishing villages. Longline boats and drifters from Ólafsvík, Hellissandur and Grundafjörður set sail early in the morning in hopes of bringing fresh fish to town.
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ome of the boats return again in the afternoon, others several days later. Upon their return, the fishermen gaze over the sea searching for that faint speck of light from their village in the midst of the various shades of black and green of the surrounding landscape. This rough and weather-worn landscape is a familiar and comforting sight, reminiscent of home.
A TEST OF STRENGTH And a beautiful home it is. At the tip of the peninsula, the extraordinary sights in Snæfellsjökull National Park exemplify much of the outstanding natural beauty Iceland is well known for. Vast lava fields stretching as far as the eye can see and its coast spans multiple scenic beaches. The most iconic of which is Djúpalónssandur. Djúpalónssandur is nestled in a small bay of volcanic rocks with fantastic views of the ocean. Although tempting, do not stroll down toward the shore! The water from the crashing waves travels a hundred feet up the black pebbled beach and has a mighty undercurrent that could easily drag you out to sea. Many decades ago, Djúpalónssandur was a spot for landing fishing boats and evidence of the boats’ remains can be found scattered around the beach. At the time, fishermen proved their worthiness and strength by lifting one of the four famous lifting stones. The heaviest stone, “Fully Strong,” weighs 154 kg and the lightest stone, “Useless,” weighs 23 kg. The stones are round, making it a challenge of grip as much as it is of strength. STANDING WATCH Near the south entrance of the national park, the beach at Lóndrangar and its neighboring cliffs, have a mystical air. From a distance, two large pillars resembling watchtowers stand tall above the ground. These rock towers are the wonderful Lóndrangar and are the eroded remains of a volcanic crater. The Snæfellsnes Peninsula was once an active volcanic area but over thousands of years has cooled down. Looming in the background is a majestic view of Snæfellsjökull Glacier, a tall and steep stratovolcano. On
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula was once an active volcanic area but over thousands of years has cooled down. Looming in the background is a majestic view of Snæfellsjökull Glacier. Svörtuloft. Photo: Dimmerinn
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