Atlantica - 01.06.2004, Qupperneq 43

40 A T L A N T I C A
because Thríhnjúkagígur cave actually
falls within the boundaries of Kópa-
vogur, a municipality adjacent to
Reykjavík, the municipality must grant
permission for the ambitious project.
To fully realise Stefánsson’s ambi-
tions, a 200 m-long tunnel will have to
be built into the cave. The tunnel will
lead to the balcony, which will be built
64 m below the surface, and 56 m above
the first floor-level of the cave. On the
balcony, tourists will be able to gaze up
and stare down, enjoying the stomach-
turning, mid-air suspension that
Stefánsson felt, dangling like a spider.
Stefánsson has also proposed a free-
hanging staircase that spirals down into
the belly of the cave.
Okay, who’s gonna pay for all this?
Good question. Stefánsson estimates a
total cost, including feasibility studies
and hidden costs, of several million
USD. While that’s a bundle of cash,
Stefánsson envisions the balcony sus-
taining itself through users’ fees, much
like the tunnel that was built beneath
Hvalfjördur Fjord, which shaved off
about an hour of driving time from the
Akranes peninsula to Reykjavík.
But most importantly, the structure
would help protect the cave by enabling
tourists to gain respect for nature.
“The cave is like a beautiful rose in the
garden of Kópavogur. I see myself
somewhat as the guardian of this rose.”
Edward Weinman is a staff writer.
Cave Man
Left, top to bottom: NE cinder cone, the vent and the gigantic vault of Thríhnúkagígur cave. Above: ice formations in Arnarker cave, south west Iceland.
Árni B. Stefánsson’s ideas and proposals will be on exhibit this summer at the Kópavogur Museum of Natural History, Hamraborg 6a, 200 Kópavogur.
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