Gerduberg is a long wall of hexagonal basalt columns on the southern side of the Snaefellsnes peninsula in West Iceland. It lies on the western edge of the Hnappadalur valley, about 115 kilometres from Reykjavik. The cliff runs for around 500 metres, and the columns are roughly 7 to 14 metres tall.
What and where Gerduberg cliffs are
Gerduberg is a basalt cliff made up of tightly packed hexagonal columns. It stands on the southern side of the Snaefellsnes peninsula in West Iceland, on the western edge of the Hnappadalur valley.
From Reykjavik, the site is about 115 kilometres away. The cliff itself runs for around 500 metres.
How the basalt columns formed
The columns formed when a thick basalt lava flow cooled slowly and contracted. As the lava shrank, it cracked into vertical hexagonal pillars. This process is called columnar jointing.
The size and shape of the columns
The columns are roughly 7 to 14 metres tall and about one and a half metres in diameter. Their hexagonal shape is part of the same cooling and cracking process that created the vertical pillars.
Walking along the cliff
The site sits just off Route 54. There is a small parking area at the base and a short path along the columns.
Because the cliff stands close to the road, access is straightforward from the parking area. For live road conditions, check road.is. For general travel safety information, check safetravel.is.
Gerduberg on a Snaefellsnes tour
If you want to compare options in the area, see Snaefellsnes tours.
Plan the journey
The Driving Distance Calculator can help you sequence Gerduberg Cliffs: Basalt Columns in Snaefellsnes with nearby sights without overfilling the day.
