Always infamous in its beauty and sometimes fatal with its attraction, tourists flock to the town of Vik in Southern Iceland and visit Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. Of all the black sand beaches in the country, this is the most popular and it is extremely accessible. Named for a Viking from Norway who was the first settler in the area, Reynir, the word fjara means beach, therefore this is Reynir’s Beach.
One of the top ten non-tropical beaches in the world, the strange and astounding sights along the coast are one of a kind. The beach was formed by an eruption of the Katla volcano whose lava flowed to the sea and upon reaching the icy waters instantly cooled in the most mesmerizing fashion, forming basalt columnar joints.
These hexagonal wonders are so perfect they look manmade, but are totally natural and rise up to over a massive 65 feet!
The columns form the base of 1115′ foot Reynisfjall, which means Reynir’s mountain.
In the summer you can find puffins nesting on many of the perfect platforms, as people often climb upon these cliffs be particularly careful at this time of year if you partake in such acts.
Instantly you’ll notice the first cave carved into the mountain, but if the tide is low you can walk a short distance on the beach and find a second basalt cave called Hálsanefshellir which comes with a tale about seal skins.
The story goes that a man heard festive sounds inside the cave and outside there were many seal skins. He took one and brought it home, locking it away in a chest. A few days later back at the cave there was a beautiful woman, naked and crying – it was the seal who’s skin he took. 
He gave her clothes, comforted her, soon they married and had children. She always longed for the sea and he always kept the key to the chest with him. Years had gone by and one day the man forgot to bring the key when he went out fishing. When he returned home the chest was empty and his wife was gone! In the days after the man would go fishing and a seal would circle his boat with tears in its eyes, he always caught many fish.
Walking further down the beach you will near the prominent towering basalt stacks standing over 216′ feet tall which are known as Reynisdrangar, Reynir’s pillars, which have a myth of their own.
Long ago the rocks were actually sea trolls and they were so intent on hauling a ship to shore they didn’t notice the time. Trolls are active at night, because they become petrified by the light of day. As dawn broke and the greedy trolls were still toiling, the ship was suddenly freed as the first rays of light turned its antagonists to stone.
Today they are home to many shorebirds, including puffins. If the tide is with you, it is possible to walk even further out to Arnardrangur, known as Eagle Rock, named historically for the pair of eagles who nested there in 1850. Heading in the other direction is another geological oddity, Dyrhólaey which can be made into a hike all of its own by driving down the road.
Danger factor:
Heed the caution of the signs posted on this beach and stay a safe distance from the water. There is nothing blocking this beach from Antarctica and rogue waves are fairly common – referred to as sneaker waves. They can come out of nowhere even on a calm day and when you end up in this freezing ocean with its strong current, you may not make it out alive. Too many deaths occur at this popular beach because people unwittingly want to take selfies in the waves. We stayed at a guesthouse in town and our host told us her own tale. Just last year a man was climbing the basalt columns while his wife and child stood there taking pictures of him, when a sneaker wave smashed against the cliff dragging him into sea. A tragic story, he never made it back to shore. The danger is real, so it is important to always be on alert and enjoy this must-see place safely.
Good to know:
+Free parking
+Restrooms charge a fee
+Extremely popular – arrive early to avoid crowds which start to build at sunrise
+A small restaurant is available on site
+Dress warm it is often windy
+Wear sturdy shoes, the beach is made up of different sized pebbles, not fine sand – so it is a bit more difficult to walk on
Fun fact: The beach has been a set for many shows and movies including Game of Thrones, Star Wars, and Star Trek.