Reynisfjara

A black sand beach near Vík, with the Hálsanefshellir cave and its basalt columns at the eastern end, the Dyrhólaey promontory to the west, the Reynisdrangar stacks offshore and Eyjafjallajökull visible behind. It is also genuinely dangerous. Sneaker waves, thrown up where swell trains converge over a submerged offshore ledge, surge far inland without warning; between 2007 and 2024 they caused at least twelve serious rescues and five deaths, with a sixth in August 2025. The cave and columns are now closed during Red Warnings. In February 2026 part of the basalt columns collapsed.