- 1. Reykjavík AreaReykjavík is the capital of Iceland, surrounded by suburbs and fascinating places.
- 2. ReykjanesReykjanes peninsula is full of geothermal wonders and also the home of Keflavík Airport.
- 3. West IcelandOne of the most famous attraction in the West is Snæfellsjökull glacier.
- 4. WestfjordsAn isolated part of Iceland, with a natural beauty beyond compare.
- 5. StrandirIf you’re looking for desolated wilderness and solitude, Strandir is the place for you.
- 6. North IcelandHome of Dettifoss waterfall, the most powerful waterfall in Europe.
- 7. South IcelandIceland’s most visited region, with plenty of waterfalls, black sand beaches and glaciers.
- 8. Highlands and interiorThe uninhabited region of Iceland, with amazing landscapes that are hard to find anywhere else.
- 9. East IcelandThe eastern part of Iceland is the home of the reindeers and Iceland’s biggest forest.
The Nine Wonders of Iceland
We split Iceland into nine different regions to make your search for information easier. Simply click on the region you want to explore and read about towns, attractions, hiking, accommodation and more.
Nearest towns or place of interest :
Hjorleifshofdi
Travel Guide
Ingolfshofdi |<-Hjorleifshofdi ->| Vik in Myrdal 8 km
Hjorleifshofdi Headland
Region: South IcelandCoordinates: 63.416667° N 18.766667° W
Hjorleifshofdi is a freestanding, 221 m high hyaloclastite headland on the outwash plain Myrdalssandur.
According to Book of Settlements, a bay reached the foothills of this low mountain, but was filled up by the constant flood waves connected with the Katla eruptions. Now the distance between the promontory and the sea is about 1½ mile.
In 874, the families, domestics and slaves of two foster brothers, Ingolfur and Hjorleifur, were on their way to Iceland to settle permanently. Their ships were separated in a storm and each family spent the next winter on separate promontories, which were consequently named after the aforementioned men. The next spring Hjorleifur’s slaves attacked and killed him and his free men. They took the women to the ship and sailed to the Westman Islands to hide from Ingolfur, who found them and killed. The burial mound of Hjorleifur is said to be somewhere on his promontory, probably close to the highest point.
The first farms stood just west of the promontory until 1721, when and eruption of the volcano Katla caused a devastating flood, which swept away the houses and the green pastures and meadows. After that, the farms stood on the promontory itself. The last one was abandoned just before the middle of the 20th century. Up to the same time, men were roped down the precipices for birds (fulmar chicks), which were a part of the diet at the time and still are among the people, who stick to the old traditions.
Hjorleifshofdi is on Saga trail for South Iceland.
Photo Credit: Axel Kristinsson
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