TTStoryTime! #11: The Black Sand Beach

Does this scene feel familiar?

If you are a fan of Game of Thrones, you probably spotted which scene this was from.

Yes! It's the infamous Reynisfjara beach from Iceland, which appeared in season 7 of this hit series!

With 130 large and small volcanoes, it’s not a surprise that Iceland possesses many such black sand beaches born from the ashes of volcanic lava.

Since 1991, National Geographic magazine has voted Reynisfjara as one of the 10 most worth-visiting beaches on the planet.

Join us, on this special journey to the land of Ice and Fire! 

READY?

3...

2...

1...

The location

Reynisfjara Beach is near the small fishing village of Vík í Mýrdal in Southern Iceland. 187km from Reykjavik and takes about 2 and a half hours by car. Since it is located just off the main route that travels around Iceland, it's easy to rent a camping car on your own and explore the area. 

On the journey to Reynisfjara, you can see a beautiful combination of mighty waterfalls and impressive glaciers of Iceland. The locals suggested that the "golden hour" that magical landscape happens at sunrise and sunset.

About the season? Spring-Autumn (from April to October) is the best time of the year to visit Reynisfjara.

But wait, why is the sand black?

Reynisfjara was formed due to the volcanic activity in the area during the last few centuries.

Every time the current volcano erupted, the boiling hot lava reached the North Atlantic Ocean and floated across the beach. When lava and cold sea finally met, lava instantly cooled down, solidified, and finally became such a special black sand color.

Feels like traveling into the scene of a sci-fi movie!

Ooooh… Interesting, how about the rocks over here?

If you followed our last blog about Iceland, you might have heard the story of the Trolls on this beach.

According to Icelandic traditional folklore, these mighty basalt rocks in the past were trolls pulling ships and boats on their way to shore. One day, they were instantly turned to stone because they couldn't hide in time when the sun came up.

Until today, it is believed that if you stand near the cliff, you could still hear their wails longing for their mountain home.

With the black sand, the scenery is even more spooky at night!

Isn’t it meant for swimming? I mean come on, it’s a beach…

Despite its picturesque beach landscape, most travelers think it’s fine to take a dip there, we know it’s tempting. But the sad news is, it’s no different than a suicide mission to swim in such strong currents. Its own raw ocean power and geology could make it one of the most dangerous destinations in Iceland!

Reynisfjara is known for dangerous sneaker waves that are very powerful even though the sea appears calm. People of all shapes and sizes think they are stronger than the power of Mother Nature, until catastrophe strikes.

Hmmm, then what are those sneaker waves, and why are they dangerous?

Also known as king waves or sleeping waves, simply put, they are huge coastal waves and often come out of nowhere. Sneaker waves are unexpectedly larger than those in between or previous waves and usually come without warning. 

When an ocean wave grabs you when walking on the beach, most likely you will be knocked off your feet and it is very tough to stand up and find balance again. Trust yourself as a strong swimmer? Nah, does not help. Once in the water, the currents will pull you away from the coast and nothing can be done to save you. The reason is, the ocean floor deepens rapidly near the coast so the wave is at its strongest when hitting the beach. The water is also freezing and you will suffer from hypothermia within just a few minutes.

The last fatal accident happened just in June 2022,  when a traveller was swept out to sea by the sneaker waves in Reynisfjara. His wife got caught in the same wave but got saved by others. Throughout the years, there have been roughly 12 serious emergency calls in recent years, and five tourists killed.

How to stay safe in Reynisfjara?

• Firstly, don’t risk your life swimming or surfing here, being a strong swimmer won't save you. 
  
  
• Strictly follow the warning signs
  
  
• Depending on the weather, Reynisfjara's beach is divided into zones. Visitors must not enter the yellow zone while a yellow light is on, and they must not enter the red zone when a red light is on (not go further than the light sign). Hence, visitors are advised to stay on the backshore, which provides a fantastic view of the shore from a safe distance. Remember that sneaker waves can form even when the weather is calm.
  
  
• Please be aware that there are no lifeguards or other manned security measures at Reynisfjara because it would be risky to perform a rescue in such dangerous conditions.

• If you visit Reynisfjara beach on a guided tour, which we would recommend, then stick by the tour guide and other members of the group.
  
  
• Never turn away from the waves and to keep a safe distance of at least 30m as you never know how big the next wave would be. It’s not worth risking your life for a selfie.

Ending

Famous for its raw and untouched nature, Iceland will bring some surprises for us, sometimes, a little bit too much =).
As long as the warning signs are respected (they are everywhere, no worries), Iceland will bring the best memories to your life.

Planning your own trip to the Land of Ice and Fire? Make sure to sign up for weather warnings at Safetravel.is. It could save your life!

Stay safe and enjoy the nature!