Iceland: Day 17 - Dyrhólaey

July 11, 2004

The next stop was the country's southernmost point, Dyrhólaey. It is a promontory reaching out into the ocean and is around 120 m high. The area is a natural preserve, and accessible via a really badly potholed road a few kilometers off the main road. It is a spectacular spot with basalt cliffs, black sand beaches and abundant bird life. There is a huge tunnel through the penninsula, rock pillars and other unique natural rock formations.

The roaring Atlantic and its foamy waves wash the black sands at the foot of Dyrhólaey. From there you can enjoy the sight of the varied and fantastic scenery of the Mýrdalur valley, fresh green fields and pastures. Above them, moors and tuff mountains of different shapes, and the mountains of the highland pastures, high and awesome, cut by deep ravines and gorges. Behind them, the white glacier reaches a height of almost 1450 m.

The very first lighthouse was built on Dyrhólaey in 1910. The present three-storey high lighthouse was built in 1927.

Once again we spotted lots of puffins and today they treated us to a display of their 'gliding' skills. (We figured that our favourite puffin Fred must have overheard the remark earlier this morning how ungraceful puffins are compared to gulls when they fly and now they were out to prove us wrong. The gliding was lovely, but their landings still left us a bit skeptical!). We also saw a curlew and its chick.

Rubby with some of the interesting rock formations of Dyrhólaey.

Basalt cliffs and seastacks with the Mýrdalsjökull in the background.

A huge specimen of tuff and the waves crashing on the black sands.

The puffin is also enjoying the great view!

Look at me! I'm flying!

 
A pair of puffins watch as our glider makes it in for a landing.

Below us the puffins burrows are out of reach from the many tourists that come by.

 
The curlew calls to us from a rocky perch to get our attention. It's chick is barely discernable among the rocks and tufts of grass (see center foreground).

 
The 1927 lighthouse on the promontory of Dyrhólaey.

A closer view of the natural tunnel.

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