- Address: Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Iceland;
- Height above sea level: 1,446 m;
- Exceedance: 1 283 m.
Glacier Snayfeldsyekudl is an ice-covered stratovolcano, whose age is about 800 thousand years. It is located in the west of Iceland , and is so large that it is visible in sunny weather from Reykjavik , which is almost 120 kilometers. But tourists are attracted not by this, but by the fact that it was through the crater of this volcano that Jules Verne led the heroes of his book to the center of the Earth.
Description
The Sneifeldsjöküld glacier hides an active volcano, although the last time it erupted about 1800 years ago. At the same time, the eruption was so strong that the ashes fell asleep throughout the northern half of the peninsula Snaefellsnes and the western fjords. From that time on, its crater, about 200 meters deep, hid under the ice, and frozen lava flows, forming whimsical braids, remained a reminder.
For a long time, the glacier Snaefeldsjöködl, considered the highest mountain in Iceland, was even called the king of the mountains. At the same time, its height is 1446 meters above sea level, and for the first time it was conquered in 1754 by Egert Olafsson and Bjarni Palsson. In recent years, the area of ice has gradually decreased, to date it is about 11 km ².
Local residents believe that the glacier Sneifeldsjöküldl has a special energy that allows it to reveal itself to the abilities of man, that this mountain is a powerful source of sacred energy. Therefore, many people of art come here in search of inspiration, and then mention this place in their works.
What can I see next?
Near the glacier, where the fishing settlement was located in the 16th century, the ethnographic center Dritvik was established. This village was one of the largest fishing stations in Iceland, there were constantly more than 40 boats, and this is about 200 fishermen. But in the 19th century the methods of fishing changed, and Dritvik gradually turned into an ethnographic center.
In Hellisandur you can look at two basalt rocks called Londrangar and a lot of fascinating lava formations on the beautiful Djupalonssandur creek.
If you go further along 54 highways to the east, then, in the village of Bjarnarhobne, it is worthwhile to call on a shark farm.
Behavior rules
Residents of Iceland are very careful about nature. It was for this purpose that the national park Sneifeldsjöküld was created. It is forbidden to litter, move out of the road on a car or light a fire. When planning a route, keep in mind that there are no campsites in the park, you will have to stop in the vicinity. Also there are no shops near the bottom located in Hellisandur, Reef, Ólafsvík and Vegamót.