Where are the basalt columns in Iceland?

Jökuldalur Valley
The basalt column canyon towers over a turquoise glacial river, making for one of the most stunning sights in the country. The canyon is located in the upper part of Jökuldalur Valley in East Iceland. This rolling valley is known for its many sheep farms.

What causes the black beach Iceland?

Iceland is a country full of volcanic activity, and this is the reason behind the black sand. The black sediment on Reynisfjara beach has been formed by boiling hot lava, from the currently dormant volcano, floating across the beach, then cooling and solidifying when hitting the cold water.

Is there really a black sand beach in Iceland?

Djúpalónssandur beach, often referred to as the Black Lava Pearl Beach can be found on the west coast of Iceland, close to the Snæfellsjökull volcano on the Snæfellsnes peninsula.

What are some interesting facts about Reynisfjara?

Its beautiful black sand, powerful waves, and the nearby Reynisdrangar sea stacks make Reynisfjara a truly unique place to visit and a popular filming location (Game of Thrones, Star Wars and more). Reynisfjara Beach is one of the most well-known black sanded beach in the whole world.

How were the basalt columns in Iceland formed?

Iceland basalt columns: How they are formed The iron and magnesium-rich basalt lava cools and contracts very quickly once exposed to the surface air and hardens as it solidifies. Iceland basalt columns are the result of this rapid cooling process that changes the chemical makeup and appearance of the lava.

What causes basalt columns?

Basalt columns are created by the cooling and contracting of lava—made of 90% basalt—which causes the ground to crack into long, geometric columns. This process is called columnar jointing.

Are there diamonds in Iceland?

Are those diamonds real? The “diamonds” on Iceland’s Diamond Beach refer to pieces of 1,000 year old icebergs that calved off from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, which is an outlet glacier of the largest icecap in Europe – Vatnajökull.

Can you swim at Reynisfjara?

There is no chance of swimming in the strong currents along the beach, so any rescue is likely to be a suicide mission. So not only are you putting your life in danger but your rescuers also. Never turn your back on the waves, and make sure to mind children at Reynisfjara Beach.

Why are basalt pillars hexagonal?

Those shapes are forming because of how the lava cools. It starts at different spots called “centers.” If those centers are evenly spaced, the forces that pull inward toward the centers end up creating different chunks of cooling lava that are hexagonal (6-sided), or close to it.

What is special about basalt?

Basalt is a mafic extrusive rock, is the most widespread of all igneous rocks, and comprises more than 90% of all volcanic rocks. Because of its relatively low silica content, basalt lava has a comparatively low viscosity, and forms thin flows that can travel long distances.