Hvitserkur is a rock on the northern coast of Iceland, famous for its shape similar to either a dinosaur or a mammoth. According to Icelandic legend, it is a troll petrified by the rays of the dawn sun.
Once upon a time there was an active volcano Hvítserkur. The lava that flowed out of the volcano during one of the eruptions for thousands of years was destroyed by the action of waves and wind, and so this rock was formed.
Waves constantly wash away the base of the cliff, and locals regularly strengthen the foot with concrete to preserve this unique creation of nature.
One of the legends says that Hvitserkur was a troll who lived happily with his family in Mount Baejer in Strandir (Westfjords), and he had a son named Bardur. One day he woke up from a sound. Hvitserkur did not understand what was going on, but he knew that it was the people who settled nearby who were disturbing his peace. He hoped that the terrible sounds would subside and his family would find peace again, but this did not happen. The sounds of the big church bell, which called the parishioners to church, irritated him more and more. There was no rest from people even in winter. And then the troll decided to get to the settlement and break the bell.
One night, having planned everything, he set off with his son. It was hard to walk through deep waters, the goal was close, but the trolls did not have enough time — dawn came.
The sun rose, and with its first rays the trolls began to turn into stones. Hvitserkur, sensing his near death, threw a hammer towards the church in Thingeyrar, but it never reached the bell. A stone placer similar to a hammer can be found in the eastern part of the coast of Thingeyrarsand.
How to get to Hvitserkur
You can see this unusual rock from the shore or from a small observation deck, which is accessed by road 711.
Coordinates of the rock: 65.606270, -20.635257
You can look at the rock from above - from the shore, or go down to the beach and approach the rock itself.
There is a path leading from the parking lot to the observation deck, you will need to walk 250-300 meters.
If you want to go down to the beach and get close to the cliff, you can use the path from the observation deck, but it is very steep and can be slippery after rain. So it's not always safe to walk on it.
A simpler, but longer option is to go down to the shore immediately from the parking lot and walk along the beach. The path from the parking lot is very gentle and simple. The only danger is seagulls, which hatch eggs on the beach and can be quite aggressive at this time. They attack anyone who approaches their nests.
The side visible from the shore is illuminated by the sun only in the afternoon, so it's better to come here in the late afternoon.
The opportunity to walk directly to the foot of the cliff along the sandy coast appears at low tide, when the water recedes. At high tide, the rock is completely surrounded by water.
What else to see nearby:
- Seal beach
- Borgarvirki is a massive basalt fortress formed by nature, but was modified by the early Icelanders
- Kolugljúfur Canyon
For more information, see our map of Iceland's attractions:
Iceland attractions map
On this map you can find all the most important sights of Iceland. All attractions are shown on the google map, which means it will be easy for you to get directions t...
