Skeiðarársandur

Skeiðarársandur is a vast sandy plain stretching between the Vatnajökull glacier and the Atlantic Ocean, covered with volcanic sediments and glacial deposits. The landscape appears bare and open, with dark gravel sand extending across many kilometers.

The plain was shaped by glacier erosion over thousands of years, with meltwater streams carrying material from Vatnajökull across its surface. In 1974, the Ring Road was completed through the area with a 904-meter bridge, closing the final gap in Iceland's circular highway.

The 1667 wreck of the Dutch ship Het Wapen van Amsterdam inspired local stories about hidden treasures and earned the name Gullskipið, meaning The Gold Ship. This tale continues to shape how visitors and locals perceive the place today.

The best viewing spots are along the Ring Road at marked parking areas on the northern edge, where visitors can observe the plain from different angles. Aerial tours departing from Skaftafell also offer a broader view of the entire landscape.

During the 1996 Grímsvötn eruption, glacial floods called jökulhlaups rushed across the plain at 50,000 cubic meters per second, dramatically reshaping the landscape. This catastrophic event destroyed infrastructure and shows how powerful natural forces still shape the area today.

Location: Sveitarfélagið Hornafjörður

Location: Skaftárhreppur

GPS coordinates: 63.83333,-17.50000

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:03