- Address: Nordjurland-Eistra, Iceland.
Cape Tjornes - a small peninsula, located in the north-east of Iceland . It is one of the most famous places in Iceland for geologists, because the fossils found here date back to the end of the Tertiary period.
What is interesting about Cape Thiernes?
Cape Tjornes, at first glance, is unremarkable - an ordinary peninsula with beautiful landscapes, rocks and hills. However, this place has its secrets - fossils. The cliffs of the cape consist of layers, the oldest of them being about two million years old. Here were found the fossilized bones of fish, shells, wood, brown coal. With the help of data obtained in the study of finds, scientists can track changes in climate, vegetation and the underwater world since the beginning of the glacial period. And there were found sea shells, which could live only in warm water - as in the modern Caribbean islands. So, a few million years ago, the climate of Iceland did not look like today.
Having arrived here, you can independently search fossils on a small beach from the western side of the cape, near the road. There are a lot of old shells, and you can walk, throw shells in the water, do anything. The only rule is "look, but do not take". Therefore, in order to avoid misunderstandings, it is not recommended to take any finds as souvenirs from this beach.
On the northern tip of Cape Thiernes is a lighthouse. You can approach it by the path, starting at a small parking lot by the road. Along the way, you can meet a lot of birds, including dead endings, nesting on the rocks along the east coast. If you try to move slowly and quietly, these colorful creatures will fly around you. But look under your feet, because you accidentally step on the nest. Ornithologists will be happy to see here not only the settlements of dead ends, but also the largest colony of petrels in Iceland. These birds live on the cape from April to August.
From the northern coast of Tjornes offers an excellent view of the Islands of the Moon - the remains of an ancient underwater volcano.
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What can you see next to Cape Thiernes?
Near the cape is the Fossil Museum, in which you will be introduced to a collection of fossils found on this peninsula.
Not far from the cape (about 23 kilometers) is the unusual local museum of culture Mánárbakki, located in a covered turf house and a weather station. You can call there by phone +3544641957. He works from June 10 to August 31.
Where is and how to get there?
Cape Tjornes is located between two fjords Öxarfjörður and Skjálfandi. You can reach it by highway 85. The distance from Husavik is approximately 14 kilometers. If you eat from Asbyrgi, then on 85 highway you will need about 50 kilometers.