Icebergs the size of houses weighing 2,000 tons came flooding through melted by the eruption of Vatnajökull volcano in 1996.
The combination of volcanic heat and massive glacial flooding caused immense destruction and the elimination of Skeiðará Bridge, all but some twisted girders. Today the twisted metal covered in graffiti makes up a monument to the event, a testament to the undeniable power of nature.
The bridge was located in on the Southern Coast along the largest expanse of glacial sand in the country, right on the Ring Road. Iceland’s Route One is the main route of transportation, if a portion of it is destroyed that means everyone would have to travel the other way. Shockingly, no one was harmed in this catastrophic event thanks to scientists who monitored the situation. In the distance on a clear day two glaciers: Skeiðarárjökull and Svinafellsjökull are visible.
The site is a rest area with no facilities, an interesting place to picnic and stretch your legs.
Fun Fact: When the bridge was built in 1974, it was the longest in the country at 2,890 feet.