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The island Drangey is a cliff,
approximately 7 hundreds thousands of years old, but still
protruding from the sea and surviving. Its highest point
rises about 180 m above the mean sea level and its area is
about 0,2 kmē. With the modern equipment of cliff climbing,
it is not too difficult to conquer,
but there is only one way to get to its top without venture.
In the past, it was the larder of the communities around the Skagafjordur
Bay. People used it as grazings, for
the collection of eggs, for the catch of different kinds of birds to prepare
for the winter months.
The egg collectors were roped down the cliffs as they
still do nowadays, and sometimes accidents happen. In the past such
accidents were considered to be the doings of evil spirits and one of
the bishops of the northern see, Gudmundur the good, was convinced to
consecrate the island to at least minimize the accidents there. He was
roped down the cliffs all around the island, where he kept blessing
and throwing holy water around, until he came to a certain spot. It
must be mentioned, that he had already blessed one of the threads of
his rope, when it came to that. At that point, when he was
consecrating the cliffs, a huge and a hairy hand with a sharp knife
came out to cut his rope, only managing to cut two of the threads. The
hairy hand was followed by a deep voice, telling him to leave a part
of the cliffs to the spirits of the other world or the old faith. He
stopped on the spot, understanding, that there had to be a place for
other beings.
Since then this part of the island, which has not yet
been consecrated, is called The Heathen Cliff. When you climb the
island, which is necessary for everyone, who travels through the area,
you are supposed to recite The Lords Prayer at the altar of the bishop
before you attempt the climb to the plateau of the island. One should
read the Saga of Grettir the strong, which is tightly connected to the
island. |