Day Two - Cave Víðgelmir and Vestfirdir

Brenda Kerr

Aug 28, 2023 • 3 min read

View from Dynjandi Waterfall. our car is way down there close to where the river runs into the fjord.

Today we went into a lava cave, drove under a fjord and a mountain, and climbed to a waterfall.

Cave Víðgelmir is a lava cave formed when a volcano erupted shortly after Iceland was populated in 970. The lava flow filled in a valley and a long cave was formed. Imagine a huge worm traveling underground and leaving behind a tunnel (that was one way the guide suggested the tunnel could have been formed). When we got to the end of the cave used for the tour and saw how smooth the ceiling and walls were you could really see how people would think that. I didn't take any pictures inside the cave so Rachael and Rob will post them.

I love how the ferns grow right from the rocks

Vestfirdir is definitely not for the faint of heart. This area of Iceland is full of mountains and fjords. The road curves around the fjords and over the mountains, and often changes to washboard filled dirt road that is barely wide enough for two cars. Add in switchbacks, single lane bridges, and drivers that insist on passing if you are not traveling over the speed limit. The plus side is the scenery: mountains, fjords, waterfalls, snow pack, sheep, and Icelandic horses.

The church-like structures are leftover from when it was too difficult to travel to church. The priest traveled instead.

Hraunfossar, or lava falls, is not your usual waterfall. There is no river falling over a steep cliff. The water comes from streams that you can't see and it is so broad you can't see all the falls at once.

Getting to Dynjandi Waterfall involves more unpaved roads. Not F Roads, but rough. The end of the trip is worth it. Toilets! And waterfalls, of course. You get a look at Dynjandi from afar and it's impressive, but the area around it is just beautiful. You climb up past several smaller waterfalls to get closer to Dynjandi (thunderous) Falls.