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This low mountain is one of the northern outposts
of the Heimaey Island. It along with the mountains Yztiklettur and
Dalfjall represents the geologically oldest parts of the island,
probably 10.000 years old. Their main structure is hyaloclastite with
some mixture of basaltic lavas on top. On a fine day, the view from
the top of Heimaklettur is excellent, but the way up there is rather
steep with two wooden ladders to make the ascent easier.
Where the
northern harbour wall starts, the sandbank is called the Temple Spit.
It is assumed, that it was named after a pagan temple, which stood
there before Christianity was accepted. According to the Saga of King
Olaf Tryggvason of Norway, two of the leading Christian chieftains of
the country brought a shipload of wood for a church on the island as a
gift from the king in the year 1000.
A well-vegetated
part of the northern slopes of Heimaklettur was named Dufthekja after
one of the slaves, who slew the first settler of the country,
Hjorleifur Hrodmarsson. He ran up the mountain to get away his
pursuers, the men of Hjorleifur's blood brother, and fell to his death
over the cliffs below the slopes. The isthmus between Heimaklettur and
Klif was named after the rest of the slaves, who were caught and
killed there.
Further east, at the foot of Midklettur is the cove Klettsvik, where
Keiko was placed in its pen in 1998.
Five years later (2003) the animal was released under
supervision and followed to Norway, where it spent its time until it
died of a sudden pneumonia on November 12th 2003 at the estimated age
of 27. Still further east, at the foot of
Yztiklettur is the cave Klettshellir, which is popular among those,
who participate in the sightseeing tours by boat. The cave
accommodates smaller vessels and every time the tourist boats are en
route, they enter the cave for a short musical experience. The
acoustics in the cave are excellent. |