Surtshellir, Stefanshellir and Vidgelmir in HallmundarhraunThree of Iceland's largest lava tube caves
We at Extreme Iceland offer both day trips and weekend trips to Iceland’s largest lava tubes named Surtshellir, Stefanshellir and Vidgelmir, all located in Hallmundarhraun lava field. Hallmundarhraun lava field was formed in giant eruption close to the Langjokull glacier around the year 930. Therefore it is likely that the first settlers of Borgarfjordur area, the Vikings watched the molten lava flow where those giant lava caves where formed. The Hallmundarhraun lava field covers over 242 sq. kilometers. The lava field consists of several large lava tubes, and some of them are Iceland’s longest and deepest lava tubes. Actually Surtshellir probably is among the best known lava tubes in the world. Surtshellir is the largest and best known of all caves in Iceland. Much has been written about Surtshellir and it was told that in earlier centuries a band of outlaws resided in the lava tube, where they raided the countryside from and stole livestock from neighboring farms. They fortified the cave and it made the authorities’ task in apprehending them more difficult. Nowadays the remains of their settlement can still easily be seen in the lava tube 1000 years later. Surtshellir lava tube is almost 2 kilometers long or 1970 meters. It has 5 skylights, all rather large except for one. The main part of the lava tube is almost 9 meters in height, still in the bottom part of the tube the ceiling is much lower. It will take you the whole day to explore every corner of the cave, but if you’re willing to just see the main parts of this famous lava tube, the tour will only take around 2-3 hours. Stefanshellir lava tube lies not far from Surtshellir. The main entrance to the cave is about 300 meters from Surtshellir’s northernmost skylight. Only about 30 meters divide the lava tubes from being joined into a single lava tube, so it’s really easy to consider them a single lava tube. Stefanshellir lava tube is 1520 meters long and if we add that to the length of Surtshellir lava tube they combine for 3500 meters of great lava tubes. The lava tube itself has very little breakdown and fairly smooth floor, so it’s easy to walk around the tube. The main entrance of the tube is a pitfall and can not be seen from far away. The lava tube forks in every imaginable direction and it’s really easy for those who don’t know the tube that well to get lost in the myriad of passageways. Vídgelmir lava tube is the farthest away of the three lava tubes in Hallmundarhraun lava field. It takes about a half an hour to drive from Surtshellir lava tube to Vidgelmir lava tube. Vidgelmir is around 33 kilometers from the main crater and about 5 kilometers from Surtshellir lava tube. Vidgelmir lava tube is 1585 meters long, the highest point inside the tube is 15,8 meters and where it is the widest it’s 16,5 meters in width. The tubes volume is well over 150.000 cubic meters, with those measurements in mind, it’s clear that Vidgelmir lava tube is the largest of all lava tubes in Iceland in everyone’s mind. The pitfall which also doubles as an entrance is huge, 75 meters long and 15 meters wide and it is also very deep. The cave starts with a narrow tunnel which leads into the main chamber and from there all the way into the bottom of the tube, the cave is huge and lots to see. It’s easy to see why Vidgelmir lava tube is considered one of Iceland’s most precious gems. Hraunfossar or the Lava Falls, come from underneath the Hallmundarhraun lava field and cascade down the lava rocks. We’ll take a look at this pearl of Icelandic nature amongst others. Feel free to contact Extreme Iceland and discuss what we have to offer regarding tours to Hallmundarhraun lava field and its system of lava tubes.
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