Reynisfjara is easy to visit without a guide or tour. How Can I Visit Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach in Iceland? Visiting The Iceland Black Sand Beach Independently Try not to disturb the birds or their habitats. Top tip: when checking out the birds at Reynisfjara, you should be respectful of the wildlife. They nest on the cliffs along the beach, and you might just be able to spot them diving into the water to catch fish. Kittiwakes are another popular sight – keep an eye out for seagull-looking creatures with black legs, not yellow. They’re often spotted nesting in the cliffs around Reynisfjara from April to August, and they will allow you to get pretty close to them. Puffins are, without a doubt, the most popular amongst birders with their bright beaks and distinct walks. But if you visit at the right time you can see a number of birds including puffins and arctic terns. Unfortunately, neither of my visits has coincided with the birdwatching season. That’s right, Reynisfjara is also a popular spot for birdwatching. You might have gathered by now that Reynisfjara is a photographer’s dream – and this is even more so true if you’re wanting to snap photos of birds. Phew, that was serious – but unfortunately completely necessary. Locals recommend staying at least 30 metres away from the shoreline.įace the sea at all times and don’t be tempted to go into the water at all. Overall, it’s safe to say that you need to exercise caution when you are visiting the beach. There’s nothing in between this part of Iceland’s southern coast and Antarctica (I know right!), so the waves build in power and size over the course of thousands of miles. They are particularly dangerous because of Reynisfjara’s notorious rip currents, which can drag people under the freezing waters in a matter of seconds. These Atlantic roller sneaker waves are forceful. A number of people have died after being caught by sneaker waves whilst standing on the beach. Is Reynisfjara Dangerous? Why Do I Need to Stay a Safe Distance from the Sea?Īlthough Vik Beach might look stunning, it’s got a surprisingly dark legacy. Tolkien used a similar story in The Hobbit – he loved the Icelandic sagas and mythologies, and incorporated references into his own work. Caught by its beams of light, were turned into the sea stacks we see today.ĭoes that story sound familiar? J.R.R. Legend has it that the stacks are actually trolls who were turned into stone!Īfter venturing out and pulling a ship to shore, the trolls were so focused on what they were doing that they didn’t notice the sun rising. They’re the subject of many a local folklore. Where is Reynisfjara?Īs I mentioned before, the Reynisdrangar sea stacks are one of the things that make this black beach in Iceland so special.īut there’s much more to these stacks than meets the eye. The rock that formed gradually eroded into the small gravelly pebbles we see today and voila – Iceland’s famous black sand beach was born.ĭid you know that there are also pink sand beaches in Iceland? Check out this guide to beaches in Iceland to see more of the country’s stunning destinations. The lava from the eruption flowed down onto the beach, cooling and solidifying when it met the water. Reynisfjara itself was created when a nearby volcano (which is currently dormant and has been for almost 100 years) erupted. There are also a number of other kinds of black volcanic rock on the island, including tholeiite and gabbro. Most of Iceland’s volcanic rock is basalt (which is what the crazy basalt columns behind Reynisfjara beach are formed from). The reason that there are black sand beaches in Iceland is because the sand is ground down from black volcanic rocks, formed from lava that has cooled and solidified. Striking as the black sand beaches in Iceland are, you have to question why they exist in the first place. The beach is located just outside of the village of Vik i Myrdal (hence its nickname Vik Beach). Whatever it is, it’s safe to say that no trip to Iceland is complete without visiting Reynisfjara.
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