Sometimes the Icelanders find it mind-boggling to figure out how their nature and landscape ended up the way they did. Sometimes totally chaotic and menacing, and then sometimes beautifully carved and mesmerizing. Icelandic folklore will, of course, provide you with excellent explanations concocted throughout the ages; tales of trolls, giants, and elves, as well as the hidden people and the dwarfs.
Dverghamrar is one of many basalt column formations
One of Iceland's most stunning rock formations is Dverghamrar (The Dwarf Cliffs), some 10 km east of the Kirkjubæjarklaustur village right on the Ring Road. The cliffs are hexagonal columns of basalt, topped with cube-jointed basalt, shaped like a horseshoe. Inside the cliffs are home to both dwarfs and elves, according to folklore. But mind you, quite a number of Icelanders still believe it to be true, and the rest can't prove it isn't. So, Dverghamrar is treated with great respect – just to be on the safe side. You never know what those superhuman beings are capable of doing.
Folklore vs. geological explanation
Even if the Icelanders would like to tell you superhuman beings built Dverhamrar, the geologists will tell you otherwise. This extraordinary landscape is believed to have formed during the Ice Age. At the time, the sea level was much higher, and the sea waves are believed to be the force behind the peculiar façade of the rocks. Columnar basalt forms through the cooling of the lava and a build-up of contraction forces. Today Dverghamrar is a protected natural monument.
If you're planning to tour Iceland in a rental car, make sure to read this article about the type of car that would be best for your trip.