Visiting Reynisfjara beach and sea stacks

While we’d experienced a glimpse of Reynisfjara’s sea stacks when driving previous, our 1st appropriate watch was from Vík í Mýrdal (more generally referred to as just Vik), the southernmost village in Iceland.

Reynisfjara is the title supplied to the seaside that stretches for a distance of roughly two miles, while the large basalt sea stacks that increase up to 66m earlier mentioned sea degree are truly named Reynisdrangar. It’s the most renowned seashore in Iceland and is created up of black sand and pebbles due to all the volcanic rock and sediment in the spot. As the crow flies, it is almost certainly only 3-4 kilometres from Vik, but by highway – simply because you have to push inland and back again out once more to get there – it is a lot more like 11 kilometres away.

Framed by spectacular basalt cliffs with geometric columns, this wild stretch of North Atlantic coastline is the most famous beach in Iceland. It’s so otherworldly that it’s a common option for sci-fi flicks it showcased in Star Trek: Into Darkness and was applied to characterize the planet Eadu in the Rogue A single Star Wars motion picture.

In the length, at the western finish of the seaside, we could see the modest peninsula of Dyrhólaey where there’s a natural arch. Entry to the area is minimal through May well and June due to the nesting time but, in the Summer months, it is a good position to see puffins.

On the beach west of Mount Reynisfjall is the cave Hálsanefshellir, in which putting columnar basalt formations can be found. If you have ever explored the Scottish islands, you may well have witnessed very similar formations at Fingal’s Cave on Staffa Island.

Columnar basalt is fashioned when magma cools bit by bit and cracks into columns, usually hexagonal, as the surface area place decreases. The columns constantly stand perpendicular to the cooling surface and can be horizontal, spreading out from the centre, or vertical.

The assorted varieties of the columns are perhaps because of to this staying a cross-section of an historical volcano, as dykes, modest magma chambers and lava sills can be observed amid other rock formations.

Legend has it that the 3 Reynisdrangar sea stacks were being previously two trolls dragging a 3-mast ship toward the shore at night. By daybreak they experienced not been productive and so turned to stone. Nearest the land is Landdrangur, the very first troll, Langsamur is the ship is in the center (which you can see greater in the pics from Vik – from the beach front it is is obscured by the to start with stack), and Háidrangur (or Skessudrangur) is the troll at the rear.

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Although the landscapes and geology are magnificent, really don’t be expecting to find the beach to your self. Admittedly we were being there in the middle of the day for the duration of the time, but there have been many coaches in the car park and we were lucky to uncover a parking place.

And make sure you, please just take discover of the warning signs… this is a really hazardous location. If you search at a map and go due south from Reynisfjara, you are going to detect that there’s no landmass until finally you arrive at Antarctica. Almost nothing at all! With no obstacles amongst the southern polar continent and this stretch of southern Icelandic coastline, smaller waves can coalesce and combine their electrical power to create what are called sneaker waves.

Inspite of the signs and loads of news stories about life misplaced on this extremely beach front, I despaired at viewing young little ones close to the water’s edge, not paying out consideration, as substantial waves came crashing down. Who in their appropriate mind let’s their youngsters do this?!

The warnings are there for very good rationale. The ocean ground is claimed to fall a steep 8 metres proper wherever the waves crack. So, if you do get swept off your feet and dragged out a little, don’t believe you are going to be ready to immediately stand up once again.

You should do not be a single of individuals persons that receives caught out and dragged out to sea you’ll not only be placing your have everyday living in hazard, but likely the lives of other people who may perhaps or might not select to try to occur to your rescue. Thankfully this youthful boy or girl did not get dragged out but, a couple of extra metres nearer the sea, and it could have been a incredibly various tale.

If you essential any extra convincing, have a glance at this alternatively alarming video from Finistère in Brittany to fully grasp why you should really not below-estimate the electricity of sneaker waves.

At the exact time, really don’t enable some thing like this put you off checking out and enjoying Reynisfjara seaside. It is a wonderful area – you basically have to have to excercise warning. There is no need to be at the water’s edge, or certainly walking about damp sand – stand back again and appreciate from afar. The check out is just the exact!

Scheduling a vacation to Iceland oneself? You can check out a movie from our vacation to Iceland right here. You can fleetingly see the Reynisdrangar sea stacks concerning 3m 44s and 3m 49s and 4m 23s to 4m 28s:

Disclosure: Our trip to Iceland was also sponsored by Helly Hansen.