Tourists coming to Heimaey Island in Iceland will be surprised and delighted by a masterpiece of nature, which is a giant rock in the shape of an elephant lying in the ocean.
Elephant Rock is believed to be a natural basalt rock that formed after a volcanic eruption.
Heimaey is the largest island in the Westman Islands located south of Iceland. With a total area of about 13 square kilometers, Heimaey is Westman's most populous island, with the rest of the islands mostly uninhabited.
Elephant Rock is believed to be a natural basalt rock that formed after a volcanic eruption in the Westman Islands. Earthquakes and volcanoes are quite common in Iceland because the island lies right at the split between two continental plates.
The last recorded volcanic eruption occurred in 1973, causing lava to spill over, leaving a layer of rocky soil off the coast of Heimaey Island. People were evacuated from their hometown until the volcano stopped erupting, and when they returned they were surprised to see a rock shaped like an elephant.
The elephant rock was actually formed after the eruption in 1973, its age is relatively young. However, the appearance of the elephant rock is also an unforgettable mark for locals and visitors to this island. Looking from a distance, the elephant looks like it is resting comfortably hiding its trunk in the clear blue sea.
With just a glance or from any direction, it is easy to immediately see the shape of an elephant. The positions of eyes, ears, faucets, body… even the colors match perfectly. The rough basalt layer is also very similar to the real skin of an elephant. Surely if you do not know about the history of this elephant rock, many people will think that this is a product of photoshop.
Heimaey Island with its elephant rock in recent years has become a popular tourist destination of Iceland. If you plan to explore Iceland, then Elephant Rock is a destination you should not miss.
