Snæfellsjökull National Park, National park with glacier and volcano in Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Iceland
Snæfellsjökull National Park is a nature reserve on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula featuring a glacier-capped volcano, black sand beaches, basalt cliffs, and volcanic craters spread across the landscape. The terrain shifts between rocky coastal sections and open highlands that can be explored on foot.
The park was established in 2001 to protect remains of ancient farmsteads and archaeological sites documenting centuries of human settlement. The region was long a significant place for Icelandic communities who built lives in this rugged terrain.
Jules Verne selected Snæfellsjökull as the entrance point to the underground journey in his 1864 novel Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Visitors should bring sturdy footwear and weatherproof clothing, as conditions are windy and can change quickly. The park is accessible year-round, though the best hiking conditions occur during warmer months from June through September.
The volcano inspired Jules Verne in his 1864 novel, where he described it as a gateway to the Earth's interior, and the story has made the location famous ever since. Underground cave systems thousands of years old can be explored on guided tours.
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