Víðgelmir

Brief description

BTH - 09/01/2016

The roof of the lava tube has collapsed, creating two large openings near its north end which are the only known entrances. Víðgelmir is 1585m long and the largest part of the cave passage is 15.8m high and 16.5m wide, making it by far the largest of its kind in Iceland. The cave has a wide entrance but narrows down in some places. An iron gate was installed at the first constriction in 1991 to preserve those of the delicate lava formations or speleothems which haven't already been destroyed. Evidence of human habitation, probably dating to the Viking Age, has been discovered in the cave and is preserved in the National Museum of Iceland. Long stretches of the cave floor are very rough and shouldn't be navigated without a guide. Access and guided tours are provided at nearby Fljótstunga. Source : * Article en anglais "Viðgelmir" de l'encyclopédie collaborative Wikipedia : en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Víðgelmir