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Point
Raudanes is in the vicinity of farm Vellir and former parsonage
Svalbard, some 30 km from the fishing village Thorshofn. A marked, 7 km
long, hiking trail around the point starts from the road to farm Vellir.
The first
port of call is the 60 m high cliff Haabjarg, which clearly shows the
strata of the basaltic rock.
The point
is a heathland with some grassland, surrounded with majestic cliffs,
such as Lundastapar with beautiful basaltic columns. Those cliffs
teemed with puffins in the past, but fell offer to the intrusion of
minks. They protrude off the so-called Ytra-Undirlendi, a sheltered
area with loads of berries (craw and blueberries) and an old foxes den.
The cliff
Gluggur (Peakhole) is a unique formation. The breakers beat it and
hollowed a cave. A part of its roof collapsed and left a nice arch
across the edge.
Many other
caves are found on the eastern part of the point and one of them can be
entered by a small boat. A short distance away is the cliff Brik.
Gatastakkur is a strangely formed, basaltic dyke eroded by the breakers.
The next
beach reveals the small cave Stakkabasar, where two fishermen sought
shelter before the turn of the 19th century and one of them
carved his name Hannes and his mate’s initials on the wall.
Two large
cliffs, Stakkar, rise from the sea off the norternmost point.
The cliff
Stakkatorfa is nearby with its colony of puffins, which are not common
in this area. Once a natural arch connected it with the mainland.
The trail
ends on the road to the farm Vellir. It is better to take along
something to drink, because no drinking water can be found in the area.
The view from different spots enroute is excellent on a fine day and
nature lovers should allow for enough time on this walk.
Source:
This text
is derived from a brochure prepared by the pupils of the 8th
graders of the Svalbard School in the autumn of 2001. |