Iceland: Day 15 - Sandfell

July 9, 2004

Sandfell is an abandoned farm in the Oraefi District, a former church site and a parsonage. The widow of Asbjorn Heyangurs-Bjarnson, Thorgerdur, built the first farmhouses there according to the Book of Settlements. She lost her husband at sea. As per the custom, she received as much property as she could walk by leading a heifer between the rivers Kota and Skeidara on a spring day between sunrise and sunset.

After the glacier eruption in 1362, a church was built at Sandfell and when in 1727 Mt Sandfellsfjall erupted as well, services were being held in the church at Sandfell. The glacier burst followed the next day and two maids, a shepherd and a great number of sheep were killed at the summer pastures just south of the farm. A memorial was placed on the foundations of the ancient church.

We had our dinner of macaroni and cheese at the picnic spot on the site and watched a bunch of sheep giving themselves backrubs against the fence in the parking lot.

The sheep are enjoying a backrub.

The ruins of the church at Sandfell.

This may be the biggest tree we've seen in Iceland yet!

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