21 September 2016

Stađarbjargavík

Posted by Callan Bentley

Based on this photo, what do you think Stađarbjargavík might have to offer?

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If you guessed columnar jointing in basalt, you’d be right!

Looking down the fjord, south of Hofsós (in Iceland):

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The place is basically a series of miniature Giant’s Causeways, full of unpopulated exemplars of cooling columns!

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Little coves separate the small peninsulas, each filled with rounded column bits:

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Here’s a spot where one more is about to be added to the sedimentary load:

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Visitors can climb all over the place, checking out the expression of the more or less hexagonal columns:

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Did you note the glacial striations there? (Of course you did.)

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Most columns show “crack panels” of arrest lines along their sides:

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On this one you can even make out (via the subtle plumose structure) the joint propagation direction:

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It’s a fantastic place. If you ever find yourself in Iceland’s Troll Peninsula, you must visit, and then go for a swim at the incredible Hofsós pool!

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