Iceland review - 2016, Page 108

106 ICELAND REVIEW
SPECIAL PROMOTIONWEST ICELAND
Discover Víðgelmir, Iceland’s largest cave.
ENTER
THE UNDERWORLD
In West Iceland, a gaping chasm in the
surface of the earth marks the entrance
into a kilometer-and-a-half (0.9-mile)-long
lava tube, burrowing three dozen meters
into the rock, into an underworld deep-
er than the sun’s rays can reach. This is
Víðgelmir, Iceland’s largest cave.
UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE
For most of Iceland’s history, Víðgelmir
was a forbidding place, an underworld
visited only by the desperate: a thousand
years ago, Icelanders condemned to out-
lawry hid here to avoid the rough justice
of their Viking Age compatriots. Being an
outlaw meant you could be killed on sight,
with no consequences for the perpetrator.
In Víðgelmir, archaeologists have found
the remains of millennium-old campfires,
and the burnt bones of scavenged live-
stock.
In recent years, the mouth of Víðgelmir
was frozen shut, then gated—meaning it
was very rarely disturbed by trampling
feet. Today, it’s been renovated as a
friendly, family-run business, dedicated to
preserving its wonders, while also show-
ing them off with expeditions unlike any-
thing else in Iceland.
ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
Víðgelmir’s tours are accessible to all,
thanks to a newly-constructed walkway,
which also protects the unspoiled legacy
of the cave. Guides illuminate the cave’s
multiple histories, human and geological,
as tours wind deeper and deeper among
the subterranean marvels, large and small;
from the high vaults of rock, their echoing
sides, streaked with rainbows of miner-
al deposits left by volcanic eruptions, to
the thousands of ancient, delicate molten
sculptures dripping from the ceilings and
rising from the ground.
At Víðgelmir, you can explore the vast
and humbling world beneath your feet.
thecave.is
CHARMING DALIR
In the West Icelandic countryside, you’ll find a
region characterized by lush valleys, peaceful
farms, rolling hills and shrublands.
The Dalir region is a perfect place to
stay for a few days, away from the hus-
tle and bustle of city life. There, you can
relax and enjoy nature, go hiking and bird
watching.
DISCOVER AND LEARN
Auður djúpúðga, the only woman to lead
a settlement expedition to Iceland, made
Hvammur in Dalir her home. This is also
where Guðrún Ósvífursdóttir, the heroine
of Laxdæla saga, lived. Eiríkur rauði (‘the
Red’) lived in Dalir before resettling in
Greenland. His old farmstead, Eiríksstaðir,
is now a living museum, open for groups
by appointment during the off-season.
CONVENIENT LOCATION
When visiting Dalir, you can either stay
in the small town of Búðardalur, or in the
countryside, in guesthouses and B&Bs.
Take your time to explore this charming
‘Sagaland.’ You could also make it your
base for exploring other regions: situated
between Snæfellsnes peninsula and the
West Fjords, Dalir is ideal for daytrips to
interesting destinations in all directions.
Only two hours away from Reykjavík, Dalir
awaits your visit.
visitdalir.is
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