A distinct cluster of seaside cliffs has made a name for itself on the Reykjanes Peninsula for its unique beauty. Valahnúkamöl juts out of the ocean 33 feet high, repeatedly pounded by the elements for thousands of years resulting in its craggy weathered appearance.
Located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the cliff is comprised of pillow lava from a single eruption, which is one of the most common rocks on earth. 
This kind of rock is created when lava flows under the sea in ocean ridges, squeezed out like a tube of toothpaste.
Historically in the peninsula, during the year 1226 there was an undersea eruption which created the Sand Winter. Ash fall was so heavy it was as dark as night in the middle of the day, resulting in death and famine. It is possible to climb up one of the prongs of the cliff to gain fantastic views – but the main cliff is closed due to heavy erosion.
A path leads down to the shore on the south edge of Valahnúkamöl, no more than a quarter of a mile, where a massive boulder beach at the base of the cliff can be explored.
Because it is a further walk, this section of the park tends to offer more solitude than the cliff and its other side which is flat and filled with informational boards.
With the harsh way of the ocean, it isn’t hard to imagine that these gigantic stones will become a black sand beach one day.
Heading back to the main area there is a wonderful view of the oldest lighthouse in Iceland, this area is filled with interesting sights.
Walking the flat-topped northern surrounding area, discover rocky coves and jagged pillars bursting out of the water.
Many islands have formed on the ridge which can be seen offshore, now natural reserves that are homes to seafaring birds.
Notably, Eldey Island is a sheer volcanic island nine miles from the shore that stands a towering 252 feet tall.
It is home to one of the largest gannet colonies in the Atlantic with 16,000 mating pairs. Gannets are the largest sea bird found in the country, but that wasn’t always the case. The island was also home to the last known pair of the Great Auks, now extinct. These birds were 33 inches tall and weighed 11 pounds, fantastic swimmers and the largest members of the Alcid family – along with their famous cousins the puffin. Perhaps their demise was the fact that Great Auks were flightless, making them easier to catch. On June 3rd, 1844 the final Great Auk on earth was killed by a Danish natural history collector. Today you can see what they looked like by a fantastic sculpture located on the coast, which is a part of The Lost Bird Project by artist Todd McGrain.
His goal is to bring attention to environmental issues such as loss of diversity. Sculptures from this series such as the Carolina Parakeet and Labrador Duck can be seen around the world, reminding us our responsibility to the protection of nature.
Nearby:
+Reykjanes Lighthouse is the oldest structure of its kind in the country
+Gunnuhver Geothermal Fields is Iceland’s largest mud pool