Introduction
Stuðlagil Basalt Column Canyon, one of the most stunning natural wonders in Iceland, remained largely unknown until 2016 when explorer, photographer and travel writer Einar Páll Svavarsson brought it to light. His discovery not only transformed the canyon into a major tourist destination but also set a standard for ethical exploration and responsible tourism. This article explores the journey of Stuðlagil's unveiling, its naming, and the significant impact of its newfound recognition.
Pre-2006: A Hidden Natural Wonder
For centuries, the magnificent Stuðlagil Canyon lay concealed beneath the relentless torrents of the glacial river known as the Jökla River, or Jökulsá á Dal as it is also often called. This powerful river, carving its path through the dramatic landscape, transported a constant flow of water and a rich assortment of sediment from various origins around the Vatnajökull Icecap and its impressive outlet glaciers. The immense strength and volume of the river created a powerful muddy stream at the Stuðlagil canyon's lower reaches, hiding its breathtaking beauty from all but a few local inhabitants and farmers. Before 2006, the stunning formations of basalt columns that define the canyon were largely submerged, with only the upper sections above the surface.
2006-2016: A Dormant Natural Wonder
The construction of the Kárahnjúkar Dam and power plant significantly altered the course of the Jökla River. It was one of the largest intervention into nature and landscape in Iceland’s history. The glacial river was redirected into man-made tunnels and eventually moved to a different valley, Fljótsdalur. This diversion led to a drastic reduction in the river's size in the Jökuldalur valley, transforming it from a large and powerful glacial river into a smaller spring-fed river. Although the river Jökla in Jökuldalur did not disappear, thanks to Iceland's rich water resources, it continued to receive water from various creeks and smaller rivers flowing from the highlands north of the dam and within the valley itself. As a result, the water became clean and vibrant, in stark contrast to the previously muddy glacial river. Additionally, the change in volume caused the water level to drop by 4 to 5 meters, which played a crucial role in exposing the lower part of the basalt column stacks in Stuðlagil Canyon. The process of moving the river from Jökuldalur valley began in September 2006. Then, the numerous glacial rivers flowing from the Vatnajökull icecap were redirected into the newly constructed Hálslón reservoir. Filling the reservoir took fifteen months. During this time, the glacial river altogether ceased to flow through the Jökuldalur valley. As a result, the stunning canyon of Stuðlagil emerged. Although the canyon was fully revealed in 2006, as it can be seen today, it went largely unnoticed for almost a decade. Local residents and farmers living close to the canyon did not recognize its potential or appreciate its beauty during that period. It was, in essence, a dormant natural wonder.
2016: The Discovery of Stuðlagil by Einar Páll Svavarsson
In the early summer of 2016, Einar Páll Svavarsson came across a photograph of a canyon that was unfamiliar to him. Despite his extensive knowledge of Iceland's diverse landscapes, he was initially skeptical about the canyon's location within his own country. Driven by a desire to learn more, Svavarsson embarked on a comprehensive research effort to identify the river associated with this remarkable basalt-column canyon. His investigation was facilitated by the fact that the search was limited to a select number of significant rivers in Iceland, making the task more manageable. In a matter of weeks, he found the basalt column canyon in Jökuldalur.
The First Visit and Ethical Photojournalistic Considerations
When Einar Páll Svavarsson discovered the canyon and as a photojournalist educated at the University of Iceland in Political Science, he had ethical concerns about publishing the photos. He realized that the canyon was located on private property. Therefore, before visiting Stuðlagil, he reached out to the owner of Klaustursel Farm, located on the eastern side of the canyon, to request permission to photograph and publish images of the area. After obtaining the necessary approval, he began his first exploration of the canyon, accompanied by his daughter, Halla Einarsdóttir, who was 24 years old at the time.
The owners' permission
During this initial visit, he anticipated that the unveiling of Stuðlagil would attract significant tourist interest, a prediction that quickly proved to be true. On their way from the canyon, they reencountered the farmer and current owner while he was haying. At that moment, Einar repeated that the photographs revealed such stunning landscapes that traffic would increase substantially if they were published. The resulting interest would surge dramatically, and the canyon would most likely become a major tourist attraction within two to three years. The farmer considered this carefully and obviously gave it another thought. After a while and further discussion with Einar and his daughter Halla, he maintained his permission to proceed. Later, when criticisms arose against Einar for publishing the photos on the Icelandic FB travel discussion forum "Bakland Ferðaþjónustunnar," the former owner of the farm, who is also the father of the current owner, defended Einar. He confirmed that Einar had asked for and received full authorization to photograph, document, and share information about the location. Two years later, the owners of the farm Grund, on the other side of the canyon, contacted Einar and asked him to define and add their information to his article, which he did at their request.
The hiticeland.com article and Facebook follow up
In August 2016, Einar Páll Svavarsson released the first comprehensive travel guide for Stuðlagil on his website, Hit Iceland (hiticeland.com). He officially named the canyon "Stuðlagil," inspired by its unique basalt columns, referred to as "Stuðlar." To further promote the location, Svavarsson also shared his article on Facebook. Additionally, he utilized his role as a Local Guide on Google Maps, where he had contributed hundreds of photos of important places in Iceland, to advocate for the inclusion of a location point for the canyon. This request was granted, making this the first-ever official mapping of Stuðlagil. It gave the canyon a name and a defined location, making it accessible for visitors. Consequently, interest in the site began to increase significantly.
Notably, it came to light that despite the canyon being fully visible since 2007, almost no documented photographs of Stuðlagil existed prior to Svavarsson's discovery in 2016, a full decade. The solitary image that initially directed him to the canyon has since been lost. It was only through his dedicated efforts that the world began to acknowledge the natural beauty of Stuðlagil.
2017: The First Major Public Exposure
The significance of Stuðlagil garnered global attention following the publication of Svavarsson's article in WOW Air's in-flight magazine. This exposure generated considerable international interest, resulting in an even further increase in visitors eager to photograph and explore this newly uncovered natural marvel. However, despite the extensive utilization of his research and information, numerous low-quality travel writers with limited self-respect sadly did not properly cite Einar as the original source and even fabricated inaccurate information about the Stuðlagil Canyon discovery. Articles that are still around and should be ignored and avoided by everyone.
2018: Government Acknowledgment of His Discovery
In January 2018, Iceland’s Minister of Tourism, Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, authored an article in Iceland’s most widely read newspaper, Morgunblaðið (mbl.is) discussing hydroelectric projects and Kárahnjúkavirkjun power plant. In the article she publicly credited Einar Páll Svavarsson with discovering and photographing Stuðlagil and acknowledged his pivotal role in unveiling the canyon to the world.
2019: Academic Recognition and Tourism Boom
In 2019 a 100-page research report commissioned by the University of Iceland and the Icelandic Tourism Research Centre was published. Behind it was extensive research on how the popularity of this natural wonder had emerged. It included interviews with local people and farmers who never mentioned that they had photographed or in any way promoted this canyon before 2016. Interestingly the report officially credited Einar Páll Svavarsson for:
Discovering, naming, and introducing Stuðlagil to the public.
Publishing the first widely available photographs and travel guides.
Transforming a hidden canyon into a major tourist destination.
Recognizing the growing significance of Stuðlagil, the Icelandic government allocated hundreds of millions of ISK to develop infrastructure around the site in the following years, ensuring its accessibility and preservation. Bringing considerable economic growth to the Jökuldalur area and the local population.
2020: The COVID-19 Icelandic Tourism Boom at Stuðlagil
With international travel halted due to COVID-19, the government of Iceland encouraged Icelanders to travel within their own country. At that time Einar Páll Svavarsson with his vast knowledge of Iceland responded by opening an Icelandic-only Facebook group “Ferðumst innanlands”. His group grew fast and now has 17,000 local Icelandic followers out of the whole population of 390 thousand people. His main article and post were highlighting why Stuðlagil Canyon is worth visiting. The post sparked widespread interest, leading thousands of Icelanders to visit the canyon that summer and cementing its status as a national landmark.
2021: Stuðlagil Goes Global – Even Hollywood Notices
Stuðlagil’s growing popularity catches the attention of Hollywood when Will Smith films part of his project there, further propelling the canyon into the global spotlight. Icelandic media, including mbl.is, covers his visit, adding to the site's international appeal.
Legacy: Ensuring Proper Recognition
Einar Páll Svavarsson’s contributions to the discovery and documentation of Stuðlagil must be acknowledged in all future discussions about the canyon.
His work:
Provided the first comprehensive travel guide to Stuðlagil.
Named the canyon "Stuðlagil."
First put the canyon on the map by defining the GPS coordinates on Google Maps
Took great ethical precautions and got permission when introducing and publishing photos from Stuðlagil
Inspired thousands of people around the world with his stunning photographs
Was formally acknowledged by Iceland’s Minister of Tourism in 2018.
Was validated by a University of Iceland and Icelandic Tourism Research Centre report in 2019.
Led to extensive government-funded infrastructure development from 2019 in Jökuldalur valley.
Led both farms and owners of Stuðlagil to receive hundreds of millions of ISK from government funds to develop the area around the Natural Wonder
Inspired thousands of Icelanders to explore their own country in 2020
Even caught the attention of Hollywood and celebrities who choose to have their photos taken in Stuðlagil
Furthermore, his ethical approach—seeking permission before documenting and publishing the site sets a gold standard for responsible tourism journalism.
Final Thoughts
The story behind the discovery of Stuðlagil is more than just a story of a geological marvel; it is a testament to the power of modern-day exploration, responsible journalism, and the profound impact that a single individual’s discovery can have on the world. Thanks to Einar Páll Svavarsson’s dedication, Stuðlagil has been cemented as one of Iceland’s most treasured natural landmarks, inspiring countless adventurers, photographers, and travelers to experience its beauty firsthand. It is a unique story globally that has few similarities in the world's vast travel industry.
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