Iceland - Djúpalónssandur
Djúpalónssandur beach is an awesome place, like so many other places on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. It is like stepping into a lava wonderland.
From the parking lot you walk down steps and up opens this beautiful black beach. The beach is made of small black smooth pebbles called Djúpalónsperlur or the Pearls of Djúpalón. These pebbles are protected.
There are two small freshwater lagoons by the beach, called "Djúpulón" (The Deep Lagoons) and the beach got its name from these lagoons "Djúpalónssandur" or the Deep Lagoon's Sand. One of the lagoons is said to be abysmal.
There is another lagoon by Gatklettur rock called "Svörtulón" or the Black Lagoon.
On the beach there are iron remains from the British trawler, The Epine GY7, which was wrecked east of Dritvík on the night of 13th March 1948. Fourteen men lost their lives and five were saved by Icelandic rescue teams. The iron remains should not be touched.
You can hike from Djúpalónssandur to the next beach, Dritvík, which used to be one of the best fishing stations here in Iceland, with 60-70 boats. Now these places are uninhabited. The hike is only 1 km.
There is a peculiar rock with a hole in it called Gatklettur. Through the hole one can see Snæfellsjökull glacier.
The suction of the sea in Djúpalónssandur is very powerful so please don't go too close to the ocean. There is a warning sign by the parking lot.
At Djúpalónssandur beach there are 4 stones. They are well known lifting-stones (Icelandic word "aflraunasteinar") here in Iceland. They were used to measure the strength of fishermen.
The biggest one is called "Fullsterkur" Full-Strength and weighs 154 kg and only the very strong can lift that one. The second one is called "Hálfsterkur" Half-Strength and weighs 100 kg. The third one is called "Hálfdrættingur" Weakling and weighs 54 kg and the forth one is called "Amlóði" Useless and weighs 23 kg. All these Icelandic names refer to how strong/weak the person is lifting them up on a plinth.
If the fishermen could not lift "Hálfdrættingur" (54 kg) they were not accepted on the fishing boats.
Nowadays stones like these are used in the strong-men contests, which are very popular here in Iceland.
Don't pass this place by while visiting Snæfellsnes peninsula.
Iceland - Djúpalónssandur
Djúpalónssandur beach is an awesome place, like so many other places on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. It is like stepping into a lava wonderland.
From the parking lot you walk down steps and up opens this beautiful black beach. The beach is made of small black smooth pebbles called Djúpalónsperlur or the Pearls of Djúpalón. These pebbles are protected.
There are two small freshwater lagoons by the beach, called "Djúpulón" (The Deep Lagoons) and the beach got its name from these lagoons "Djúpalónssandur" or the Deep Lagoon's Sand. One of the lagoons is said to be abysmal.
There is another lagoon by Gatklettur rock called "Svörtulón" or the Black Lagoon.
On the beach there are iron remains from the British trawler, The Epine GY7, which was wrecked east of Dritvík on the night of 13th March 1948. Fourteen men lost their lives and five were saved by Icelandic rescue teams. The iron remains should not be touched.
You can hike from Djúpalónssandur to the next beach, Dritvík, which used to be one of the best fishing stations here in Iceland, with 60-70 boats. Now these places are uninhabited. The hike is only 1 km.
There is a peculiar rock with a hole in it called Gatklettur. Through the hole one can see Snæfellsjökull glacier.
The suction of the sea in Djúpalónssandur is very powerful so please don't go too close to the ocean. There is a warning sign by the parking lot.
At Djúpalónssandur beach there are 4 stones. They are well known lifting-stones (Icelandic word "aflraunasteinar") here in Iceland. They were used to measure the strength of fishermen.
The biggest one is called "Fullsterkur" Full-Strength and weighs 154 kg and only the very strong can lift that one. The second one is called "Hálfsterkur" Half-Strength and weighs 100 kg. The third one is called "Hálfdrættingur" Weakling and weighs 54 kg and the forth one is called "Amlóði" Useless and weighs 23 kg. All these Icelandic names refer to how strong/weak the person is lifting them up on a plinth.
If the fishermen could not lift "Hálfdrættingur" (54 kg) they were not accepted on the fishing boats.
Nowadays stones like these are used in the strong-men contests, which are very popular here in Iceland.
Don't pass this place by while visiting Snæfellsnes peninsula.