Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
South of Rte 1, the small peak of
Hjörleifshöfði
(221m) rises above the sands and of-
fers good views towards Vestmannaeyjar. On the other side of Rte 1, the green hill of
Hafursey
(582m) is another option for walks from Vík.
VESTMANNAEYJAR
Jagged and black, the Vestmannaeyjar (sometimes called the Westman Islands) form 15
eye-catching silhouettes off the southern shore. The islands were formed by submarine
volcanoes around 11,000 years ago, except for Surtsey, the archipelago's newest addition,
which rose from the waves in 1963. Surtsey was made a Unesco World Heritage Site in
2008, but its unique scientific status means that it is not possible to land there except for
scientific study.
Heimaey is the only inhabited island. Its little town and sheltered harbour lie between
dramatic
klettur
(escarpments) and two ominous volcanoes - blood-red Eldfell and conical
Helgafell. These days Heimaey is famous for its puffins (around 10 million birds come
here to breed); Þjóðhátíð, Iceland's biggest outdoor festival, held in August; and its new
volcano museum.
Heimaey
pop 4262
The small town of Heimaey (
hey
-my) is encased in a fortress of jagged lava; its port sits at
the end of a contorted waterway that carves a path between towering cliffs dotted with bird
nests. Although only a few kilometres from the mainland, Heimaey feels light years away,
lost amid the frigid waters of the North Atlantic.
Over the centuries the island was a marauders' favourite. The English raided Heimaey
throughout the 15th century, building the stone fort Skansinn as their HQ. In 1627
Heimaey suffered its most violent attack at the hands of Algerian pirates, who went on a
killing spree, murdering 36 islanders and kidnapping 242 more (almost three-quarters of
the population). The rest managed to escape by abseiling down cliffs or hiding in caves
along the west coast. Those who were kidnapped were taken as slaves to north Africa;
years later, 27 islanders had their freedom bought for them…and had a long journey home.
