At the tip of Snaefellsnes peninsula is the tiny inlet of Djupalonssandur, used in centuries past as a landing for small fishing boats. Here, not even the roar of the ocean can cover the sound of the seagulls constantly on the move!
Craggy rocks surround the beach, made of black sand and small black smooth pebbles. The smooth pebbles on the beach are unique. Please do not pick the stones. It is not allowed.
The bay was once home to sixty fishing boats and one of the most prolific fishing villages on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, but today Djupalonssandur is uninhabited.
Strength determined the fishermen’s salaries. Fishermen measured their strength based on weight-stones, still visible down by the landing. Fishermen would lift the stones as part of their job application. The four stones had names based on their weight; Fullsterkur (Strong, 154 kg), Halfsterkur (Halfstrong, 100 kg), Halfdraetingur (Half-as-good, 54 kg) and Amlodi (Lightweight, 23 kg). Employers did not hire men who couldn’t lift Amlodi; such men were not strong enough for the job. Of course, you are more than welcome to try your strength on these stones.
You can still see the remains of the Grimsby trawler Epine (GY7) that wrecked on the beach in 1948. The iron fragments still lie on the beach in memory of the 14 seamen who lost their lives that night. (Only 5 crew members survived the wreck.)
While you are visiting Djupalonssandur, you should also visit the nearby Dritvik Cove. Here you can see the remnants of fishing huts from the days when this cove was one of Iceland’s busiest areas.
