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Surtshellir - One of iceland longest best-known caves - West Iceland

Region: West

About: (Description)
Surtshellir, undoubtedly the most famous cave in Iceland. in the Hallmundarhraun lava field about 7 km from the farm Kalmanstunga along a road (F578) that is slow but passable for all cars as far as the caves.

There are four openings, not all of a size for people to get through. The cave is 1970 m long, or 3500 m along with the cave Stefánshellir, which connects up to it, and with interesting side caves. Stone-built walls and bones have been found there.

Outlawed thieves, called Hellismenn (“Cave men”), hid out in the caves in the 10th century, but were killed by farmers led by the chieftains of inland Borgarfjörður. According to Hellismanna saga the outlaws were sleeping in Vopnalág (“Weapon dell”) at the southern end of the Þorvaldsháls ridge when the farmers attacked them.

source Iceland Road Atlas

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