Complete Guide to Snæfellsjökull National Park

One of the 3 national parks in the country, Snæfellsjökull National Park, is perhaps the most accessible from the country’s capital. While neither the oldest nor the largest in the country, you shouldn’t count Snæfellsjökull out by any means. You’ll find rolling landscapes scattered with unforgettable  natural attractions and rugged scenery. The park is named after the Snæfellsjökull glacier which stands overseeing the area alongside a number of other tall peaks.

Notable Features of the National Park

With such a big area to cover, you might want to know the biggest and best natural features of the park. Let’s take a look at the most obvious landmarks in Snæfellsjökull National Park.

·        Snæfellsjökull Volcano: This volcano sits beneath the Snæfellsjökull glacier and makes for a stunning spot for hikers and ice-climbers.

·        Buðahraun Lava Field: The peculiar sandy lava fields of Buðahraun are located on the southernmost point of the national park and are home to the infamous black church and Budaklettur crater.

·        Djúpalónssandur Beach: Known as black lava pearl beach, stunning lava formations from ancient eruptions litter the surroundings, making for an incredible backdrop.

 

Wildlife in Snæfellsjökull National Park

While you might imagine national parks to be full of large animals, Snæfellsjökull National Park has only a few notable creatures and plants to be aware of. In particular, due to its coastline, seabirds are common in the park. The famous arctic tern is in fact the symbol of the Snæfellsbær municipality.

The entire length of the area’s coastline plays host to a range of seabirds making their nests. Birds found here include the Arctic Tern, razorbill, fulmar, shag and many more. Þúfubjarg and Saxhólsbjarg are two of the best cliffs to frequent if you are an avid bird-watcher with plenty of species commonly spotted here.

As in the rest of the country, moss is among the most common types of vegetation in the Snæfellsjökull park. In fact, Búðahraun lava field is renowned for the rare types of plants and moss found here. It is for this reason the area is protected, so be careful where you step when exploring the national park. 

The reason for such rare species lies in the area’s geography. Lava fields are typically rife with mosses, but this area has lava fields that are bedded in seawater. This combination creates some unique conditions for life, taken advantage of by ferns, mosses, and lichens.

Geology of the National Park

The Snæfellsnes peninsula contains rocks from almost every geological period of Icelandic history. The glacial period of the ice age had a large influence on the area, and most rock formations in the park are a result of this or more modern times. 

Lava fields are also prevalent in the area, which may be expected due to the proximity of the area to the Snæfellsjökull volcano and ice cap. The Búðahraun lava field is one of the most famous among geologists for its triple-flecked lava rock.