The plane crash site on the deserted sandy beach of Sólheimasandur is one of the main "non-natural" tourist attractions in Iceland.
On November 24, 1973, a U.S. Navy aircraft made an emergency landing on a beach in Southern Iceland due to a sudden deterioration in the weather. Surprisingly, everyone on the plane survived the crash. The entire crew remained alive.
But, unfortunately, he could not get into the air anymore.
The US Armed Forces removed all usable equipment from the aircraft and left the rest on the beach.
Previously, it was possible to drive a car along the beach directly to the plane, but now the road is closed and the car needs to be left in the parking lot right next to the first highway.
The owner of the land closed access due to careless tourists who drove SUVs along the beach and tore up the ground. This means that no one will be able to get to the plane on the beach. The only way to get there now is to take a walk. About 4 km and 40-45 minutes in one direction.
Given the Icelandic weather, this can be a difficult test. Be prepared that it will not be very easy to go against the wind and with the rain coming horizontally, but the views are worth it.
Today, the site of the DC-3 accident has become one of the most visited places in Iceland.
How to get to the crash site of the DC-3
The wreckage of the plane is located in the southern part of Iceland, near the town of Vik on the beach of Sólheimasandur (between the waterfall Skógafoss and the village of Vík).
You can go there with rented car or just book a tour from Reykjavik.
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If you drive from Reykjavik along the ring road No. 1 from west to east, then parking will be available before reaching the village of Vik. After passing the turnoff to the Skógafoss waterfall, continue along Highway 1, you will cross the bridge and after 2 km you will see the parking lot of Sólheimajökull to your right. If you pass the second bridge, it means that you have gone too far.
Parking for 10-15 cars is located at coordinates 63.4912391, -19.3632810.
There are several information signs in the parking lot.
Further, the path can only be continued on foot and it will take about 40-50 minutes. Moreover, the wreckage of the aircraft will not be visible until the very last moment, as it is hidden behind one of the sand dunes.
GPS coordinates of the crash site of the DC-3 aircraft:
63.459092, -19.364736
A walking road starts from the parking lot, straight as an arrow, almost to the plane itself. Usually there are hangers on the sides, although not at a close distance, but they will help you not to lose your way.
A walk to the wreckage of the plane may look like this:
At first it was raining and the wind was not very strong, but the further we got away from the car, the wind became stronger. At some point, the rain shifted to a horizontal plane. That is, the drops did not come from above, as usual, but from the side and cut into all exposed areas of the skin quite painfully.
When we were about halfway through, someone from our group decided to turn around - the car was no longer visible, as, in principle, the crash site of the plane... We were in the middle of a black sandy desert, in which occasionally larger rocks came across.
And so the road begins to turn slightly, and then more strongly to the left. We go around a small hill and see the crash site, several people are running around it like ants. But when we get there, they're gone... And we are alone near the skeleton of the plane - an indescribable impression ...
Now the plane has slightly changed its appearance - graffiti, bullet holes, footprints around the plane, diverging in different directions.
If you come to Iceland in winter and walk to the plane on a polar night, then its skeleton illuminated by the northern lights will look even more unreal and mysterious.
A black sand beach near the plane crash in Iceland and a view of Cape Dyrholaey from the place with the remains of the plane:
Recommendations before going to the crash site:
- Comfortable walking shoes. Only to the crash site you will have to walk about 4 kilometers in one direction.
- Hat, gloves, scarf - of course it all depends on the weather, but do not neglect such simple things
- Wind- and moisture-proof clothing - top and bottom
- Take food and water with you - after all, the trip there / back will take at least 1.5-2 hours
- Make sure your camera is fully charged or you have a spare battery.
What else to see nearby:
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