Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Svarta Fjaran
CAFE
(Black Beach; 859 7141;Reynisfjara;snacks Ikr 990, dinner mains Ikr2400-5200; 11am-9pm)
Spectacularly set black volcanic cubes, meant to mimic the nearby black beach Reynisfjara
with its famous basalt columns, house this new cafe that serves homemade cakes and
snacks during the day and offers a full dinner menu at night. Plate glass windows give
views to the ocean and Dyrhólaey beyond.
KATLA GEOPARK
In 2011 Iceland formed its first 'geopark' to protect a region of great geological import-
ance, promote local culture and sustainable development, and educate visitors. The
Katla Geopark
( 560 2043;
www.katlageopark.is
) extends from Hvolsvöllur northeast to
the great Vatnajökull and down to the volcanic black-sand beaches. It includes its name-
sake Katla volcano, the infamous Eyjafjallajökull and the tortured earth at Lakagígar. All
told, that's about 9% of Iceland.
Of all the volcanoes in Iceland, it is thought that Katla may cause the most trouble to
Icelanders over the next few years. This highly active 30km-long volcano, buried deep un-
der the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, has erupted roughly twice per century in the past. Since the
last eruption was in 1918, it's now several decades overdue.
It's expected that when Katla does blow, days of ashfall, tephra clouds and lightning
strikes will follow the initial explosion, with flash floods caused by the sudden melting of
glacial ice. The geological record shows that past eruptions have created tidal waves,
which have boomeranged off the Vestmannaeyjar and deluged the area where the town of
Vík stands today.
Local residents receive regular evacuation training for the day when Katla erupts. In the
event of an eruption, all mobile phones within range of a tower (including yours) will re-
ceive a warning. After the alert, farmers must hang a notice on their front doors to show
that they have evacuated, before unplugging their electric fences, opening cattle sheds
so that their animals can flee to higher ground, and heading for one of the evacuation
centres in Hella, Hvolsvöllur or Skógar.
There is no park office, but the geopark website offers information, and national TV sta-
tion RÚV has a webcam near Vík, set up to film the floods when Katla erupts (see
