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the name Laufskalavarda, which could be translated as “farewell mounds”, is thought to come from the name of a farm that existed in this area in the early settlement period. Unfortunately it was destroyed in the eruption of Katla.
Laufskalavarda (Laufskálavarða) is a cluster of stone mounds along a lava ridge – a place with interesting history.
Laufskalavarda in the past
Although today Laufskalavarda is a tourist its history is vastly different. Early settlers built such mounds to mark trails or other important places. Later local people used these mounds as landmarks, believing that building one could bring them luck on their journeys.
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the name Laufskalavarda, which could be translated as “farewell mounds”, is thought to come from the name of a farm that existed in this area in the early settlement period. Unfortunately it was destroyed in the eruption of Katla.
Laufskalavarda is situated at the beginning of the road connecting the South Coast with the North Coast. Today, turning off here onto road 209, and then continuing along F208 and F26 we can get – driving in a rather straight line – to Myvatn and Akureyri on Iceland’s north coast. But even years ago this road, along the western edges of the massive Vatnajokull glacier, called Sprengisandsleid, was a major transport route.
Laufskalavarda today
Modern-day tourists have picked up a habit of building such mounds, even huge one, themselves. To the point that today it is nearly impossible to find rocks for a new mound. And as the legend goes, destroying someone else’s mound brings bad luck…
Anyway, it is a nice place to stop and enjoy the views. When the light is right it can be really photogenic. In good weather Laufskalavarda offers a magnificent view of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier and Katla volcano.
There is a parking area with toilets near Laufskálavarða.
