Leiðarendi

Leidarendi Lava Tube

Useful Information

Location:	Stora-Bollahraun lava field.
Open:	No restrictions. [2025]
Fee:	free. [2025]
Classification:	lava tube
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:	L=900 m.
Guided tours:
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1990s

cave discovered.

Description

Hellirinn Leiðarendi (End of the Journey Cave) is located at the Stóra-Bollahrauni (Stora-Bollahraun lava field). The lava was produced by the Stori-Bolli crater southeast of the town of Hafnarfjordur. The cave was named End of the Journey because of a dead sheep which lies at the far end of the cave, where it reached its End of the Journey. It obviously fell into the entrance doline and was not able to climb out.

Due to its proximity to the capital, it is unfortunately visited by many people. This has led to massive vandalism in recent years. The above-mentioned skeleton has been moved, rubbish has been left behind, and someone has used it as a toilet. Almost all the rare lava stalagmites in the cave have been broken. An Icelandic speleologist tried to protect unique patterns on the wall formed by microorganisms by using a chain as a barrier. This was not respected and the patterns were sprayed over with graffiti.

The speleologist Árni B. Stefánsson talked to the local TV station RÚV in an interview, complaining that a lot of money was being made from the cave without anything being done to protect it. As a result, the city wanted to take immediate action and install sensors to count how many people visit the cave. You can only shake your head in amazement at so much nonsense, isn't the existing damage enough information? The only protection would be to close the cave and only allow visitors with a guide. That would probably also be the cheapest solution. And if the number of visitors is sufficient, you could also install a staircase and light and turn it into a real show cave.