Snaefellsjokull
National Park, Volcanoes, Glaciers
Snæfellsjökull National Park, Snæfellsnes Peninsula, West Iceland
Djúpalónssandur is a dramatic black-lava pebble beach on the southwestern edge of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, cradled within Snæfellsjökull National Park. Its name means ‘Deep Lagoon Sand’, and the beach sits in a sheltered cove framed by towering basalt formations and sea stacks.
Along the shoreline you’ll find four lifting stones — the Dritvik lifting stones — once used to test the strength of fishermen before they were allowed to crew a boat. Nearby lie the corroded iron remnants of the British trawler Epine, wrecked in 1948, adding a melancholy edge to the scenery.
The beach is easily reached via a well-marked car park off Route 574, with a short walk down to the shore. Swimming is strongly discouraged due to powerful waves and sneaker waves; the site is best visited for its striking landscape and folklore.
