Djúpalónssandur

This strange black sand cove on the south coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is curiously close to the Icelandic heart. It is covered with black pearly pebbles, constantly being brought in by the ocean waves.

This strange black sand cove on the south coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is curiously close to the Icelandic heart.

Djúpalónssandur or Deeplagoonsand is a fascinating place for many reasons. The name is traced back to some of the first settlers in Iceland some twelve hundred years ago. It was the landing place of Bárður Snæfellsás and his family and crew. It is also a place where farmers and people at Snæfellsne Peninsula used as a fishing station for centuries. And last but not least it is a beautiful place with stunning landforms.

The pebble beach, small lakes, and stunning lava formation

When you visit Djúpalónssandur take care as the path to the beach is short, narrow and harsh. But once at the beach, you pass an interesting lava rock with a hole in the middle. On the beach, you will also see many other interesting lava formations and rocks, some that are connected to local stories and folklore. On the shore behind the lava on your right side when walking the path is a small pond, a beautiful sight. Specifically, if you are at Djupalonssandur on a clear day with the glacier in the background. The beach is also quite unique with its many pebbles of various sizes. It is a great place to take children and give them time to play with the small stones by the beach.

Djúpalónssandur pond Svörtulón

The pond Svörtulón or Black Lagoon is an adventurous place

Take your time at Djúpalónssandur and Black Lagoon

This strange black sand cove on the south coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is curiously close to the Icelandic heart. It is covered with black pearly pebbles, constantly being brought in by the ocean waves. Still, picking them – or nicking them – is strictly forbidden. It's not that they keep a pebble-police at Djúpalónssandur, the Icelanders just don't want their stones removed. Not a single one of them. In the old day, just like so many coves in this area, Djúpalónssandur used to be a fishing station similar to the nearby Dritvík. And, being the temple of stones in Iceland, on this beach you will find four larger rocks, significant to the cove's history. Those are the four lifting stones where workers at the fishing stations would test the strength. The smallest one is Amlóði (Bungler) at 23 kilos, followed by Hálfdrættingur (Weak) at 54 kilos, then there is Hálfsterkur (Half-Strength) at 100 kilos a last, but not least, Fullsterkur (Full-Strength) at 154 kilos. Half Strength marked the frontier of wimpy and those who couldn't lift it was deemed unsuitable for life at sea. At the beach, you will also see rusted metal from the English trawler Eding, which was wrecked at the Djúpalón beach in 1948.

The lifting stones where workers at the fishing stations would test the strength

Access to Djúpalónssandur Cove

To reach Djúpalónssandur, you need to drive Útnesvegur road on Snæfellsnes Peninsula nr. 574. You take a turn to the south when you reach the intersection nr. 572 Dritvíkkurvegur road. There is a parking lot by Djúpalónssandur cove.