Sights and nature in Vestmannaeyjar

Heimaklettur ( rock of home ) is the highest mountain in Westman Islands and was formed from an eruption from underneath the ocean manly made of tuff. It is 283 m. high over the sea and it is the oldest part of the island. It is about 40.000 years old. It stands high and steep from the ocean and on top is the green grass hill where the hobby farmers keep their sheep. It is very popular to hike up the mountain and it looks more difficult then it really is. When you get to the top you can sign your name into the guestbook that is located on the top.  The rock looks very beautiful from the ground also in the dark because in 2003 they started to light up the rock.

Sprangan ( the swing rope) is the ,,national” sport of Westman Islands. It is where people trained to get stronger before going out to the smaller islands around Heimaey. You had to know that you could hold your own weight when you are sliding down the cliffs collecting eggs from the wild birds or just to get up to the steep rocky islands. Some were so talented that they could put on a quite a show, and it depended on how good you were how high up to the mountain you went. Some people were just kids when they started training. Nowadays Sprangan is more for fun.

Herjólfsdalur is the beautiful valley on the island.  It is named after the first settler that lived there in the valley. It really is a 10.000-year old crater but to us, it is our valley. Next to the valley is the golf course and it is just so beautiful golf course with the mountains around. Each year we have a big three days music festival in Herjólfsdalur that is known all around Iceland. All of the most popular musicians play on that festival and the valley is decorated with lights and tents. It just has a special feeling being on that festival. Hiking up the steep hills and to the top is just one of our favourite hiking route.

Eldfell is a volcanic cone just over 200 metres high. It was formed in a volcanic eruption which began on the eastern side of Heimaey on 23. january 1973.  It didn’t give any sign of warning to the people, and caused a major crisis for the island and led to evacuation for many months. The Lava from the eruption nearly closed up the harbour, but an operation to cool down the lava with ocean water was successful and preventing the harbour to close up.  Today this volcano is the most popular to hike up. It is not difficult and as the lava cooled down in the later years, people can still feel the heat from the mountain on the top.