Arnarstapi Lava Columns

The cliffs near the small community of Arnarstapi, located on the south side of the Snaefellsnes peninsula, are comprised of hexagonal basalt columns.  The columns are volcanic in origin and are formed by a process called “columnar jointing.”  This process occurs when thick basaltic lava shrinks and cracks as it slowly cools.  The cracks move down through the lava flow resulting in vertical columns.