Reynisdrangar(1). 비크(Vik). 아이슬란드(Iceland)

Reynisdrangar(1). 비크(Vik). 아이슬란드(Iceland)

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Vík í Mýrdal

Formation of Mýrdalur Bedrock

The Mýrdalur Bedrock is mainly made up of tuff, which was either formed by submarine eruption or by subglacial eruptions. The main features of the landscape formed during the last ice age, which ended about 9,000 years ago. Thereafter, destructive denudation forces took over the shaping of the land using sea, wind, water and glacial erosion, as well as frost and fire, as these forces have easy access to the porous tuff. In addition, considerable subglacial outburst floods have flowed over the area, as well as ash fall and aeolian deposition. It can be said that the geologial formations of the area are very young and in constant formation.

Mýrdalur lies sheltered by the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, but under it is hidden one of Iceland's most active volcanoes, Katla. Katla has erupted, on average, twice a century since settlement and is the greatest threat to the settlement in Mýrdalur. The danger from an eruption of Katla comes first and foremost from the glacial outburst floods that occur when massive amounts of glacial ice melts and the ice cave lifts and water bursts forth with incredible force that spares nothing. Up until the 17th century, the sea reached up to the cliffs above the village, but marine sediment and sediment from Katla has formed the lowland in front of it. In addition, the extensive sands east and west of the village are Katla's handiwork, which in its subglacial outburst flooding has brought with it a large amount of ash. During historical times, most of the outburst flooding flowed down Mýrdalssandur and into the sea. Due to the ocean currents, the sediments are transported along the coast to Reynisfjall mountain and with this the beach grows. As the ocean waves play with the sand it gradually crumbles and the grains become smaller and the fine material is dispersed into deeper water, but the coarser material continues to be lossed about on the beach. As more time passes since the last eruption, the sea reaches further up the beach and gets closer to the village.

Reynisfjall Mountain and Reynisdrangar

The highest mountain in Vik is Hatta, which reaches 512 m above sea level. From the summit of Hatta there is one of the most spectacular views, to the south of the glaciers. To the west of the village Vik is Reynisfjall mountain, a hyaloclastite ridge tha reaches 340 m hight and is divided up irregularly by layers of tuffs, pillow lava, columnar dikes, veins and intrusions. At Reynisfjall mountain, there are almost vertical cliffs, where the glaciers have scoured the slopes of the mountain and the sea breaks to its south, so that there is substantial rock fall. Just offshore, the Reynisdrangar pillars rise from the sea, up to 66 metres high, made of tuff ridge, which is probably a continuation of the Reynisfjall mountain. The sea has eroded away the greatest part of the ridge and the pillars are left standing alone. The largest pillar has three crests and is named Langsamur. Attached to Langsamur is Landdrangur, but the third, which stands alone, is variously referred to as either Háidrangur or Skessudrangur. Attached to Háidrangur/Skessudrangur is a smaller rock, which is called Steðji. The legend about these pillars says that two trolls tried to draw a three-masted ship ashore but the dawn overtook them before they reached the mountain and the trolls and the ship turned to stone.

 

Contemporary legends note the story of a husband who found his wife taken by the two trolls, frozen at night. The husband made the two trolls swear to never kill anyone ever again. His wife was the love of his life, whose free spirit he was unable to provide a home for; she found her fate out among the trolls, rocks, and sea at Reynisfjara.

Reynisdrangar

An impressive sight from the shore, the sea stacks called Reynisdrangar, are only a short distance from land. They are named Skessudrangur, Langhanmar and Landdrangur (66 m). According to legend, two giants had tried to tow a three-sailed ship to the shore, but daybreak overtook them before they could reach the safety of the mountain, and both the giants and the ship turned to stone.

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