The Treasures Of Iceland’s Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Iceland is an island that is located in the extreme northwest of Europe, between Greenland and the Old Continent. It stands out for its spectacular wild landscapes: volcanoes, geysers and lava fields. In the west of the country we find the Snaefellsnes peninsula, a territory where we can admire the best of the island.
The Snaefellsnes peninsula is a miniature Iceland, because in a small spit of land we can see in a concentrated way the most characteristic, spectacular and, at the same time, chilling landscapes of the island. Its beauty is such that it was the setting chosen by Jules Verne to set his novel Journey to the Center of the Earth . We are going to discover its treasures.
1. Stykkishólmur, base on the Snaefellsnes peninsula
It is the most populated town on the peninsula, although it only has about a thousand inhabitants. It is the starting point for excursions through Snaefellsnes and ferries depart from its port to the western fjords. This town, in addition to being a strategic connection point, has charm of its own.
Stykkishólmur is located in a beautiful and calm bay. Around its port we can admire the picturesque 19th century houses characteristic of the island. Among them is the Norska Husið, a small museum where you can see one of these houses inside, as well as a multitude of other objects.
When thinking of a lonely place, many times we imagine it is a lighthouse. It is true that the profession of lighthouse keeper was once very hard, since these buildings are almost always in remote places. Imagine how it must be in Iceland. On the peninsula you can visit two lighthouses, that of
3. Grundarfoss and de
The waterfalls of
On the other hand, the Grundarfoss waterfall is an imposing double waterfall that, unfortunately, can only be seen in the distance, since access to them must be done through private paths. Anyway, seeing it from afar you can already appreciate its majesty and beauty.
4. Snaefellsjökull, a gem on the Snaefellsnes peninsula
At the western end of the peninsula we find the Snaefellsjökull National Park. It has an area of about 170 km² and what stands out the most is the Snaefells volcano. It is a stratovolcano, a steep volcano formed by successive explosive eruptions 1400 meters high in whose crater and on its top a glacier has settled.
In addition to this imposing volcano, in the park we find beaches of black rocks formed by the collision of lava with the cold water of the sea. Djúpalónssandur beach is the most visited. In it you will see the remains of an old shipwreck. It is not a beach for bathers, so if you thought about diving in the cold waters of the North Atlantic, forget about doing it here.
5. Churches of
In Snaefellsnes not everything is landscapes, there are also spaces built by humans that will leave you speechless. Perhaps they do not do it for the buildings themselves, but for the combination of these with their surroundings.
An example of this is the church of Ingjaldshóll, in the town of Hellinssandur. It is a small church whose white walls contrast with the rugged landscape. From its location you will have great views of the town and the Breiðafjörður fjord. Another of these churches is that of
By the way, we cannot visit this part of Iceland without knowing these lava fields. These rocky landscapes are invaded by moss, something that makes them really beautiful places, but at the same time desolate. They look like landscapes from another planet. One of the most famous lava fields is that of Berserkjah.
Paragraphs could be devoted to talking about the wonders that the Snaefellsnes Peninsula hides, but there is no space for it. Perhaps, it would be better to take a plane, rent a car and see those landscapes for yourself. The peninsula can be visited in one day, but why run? In the small villages in the area you can spend the night. If you do, take with you Journey to the center of the Earth .
