Hvitserkur is a basalt sea stack rising from the sea off the Vatnsnes peninsula in northwest Iceland. It stands about 15 metres high. The name Hvitserkur means white shirt.
The troll turned to stone
The name Hvitserkur means white shirt, after the pale bird droppings on the rock. In Icelandic folklore, the stack is said to be a troll caught by the rising sun and turned to stone. Two holes worn through its base make it look like a large animal drinking from the sea. It is often compared to a dragon or a rhinoceros.
Where Hvitserkur is
Hvitserkur rises from the sea off the Vatnsnes peninsula in northwest Iceland. It is a basalt sea stack.
Birds and seals nearby
The rock is a nesting site for seabirds. Its base has been reinforced to slow erosion. Seals are often seen along the Vatnsnes peninsula nearby.
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