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Iceland is after all greatest identified for being the ‘Land of Fireplace and Ice’, because of its many volcanoes and glaciers. There are nevertheless another attention-grabbing and considerably uncommon sights, and one among these is the airplane wreck on Sólheimasandur, a black seashore on the south coast of Iceland.
It’s a couple of 20-minute drive from Vik however first a shout-out for The Soup Company in Vik the place we first stopped for some lunch earlier than visiting the airplane wreck.
The Soup Firm is a superb place to attempt Iceland’s well-known crimson sizzling lava soup. It’s their signature beef goulash soup, is filled with flavour and is available in a black lava bread bowl with yoghurt on the aspect.
However they do many different soups, too, resembling an Icelandic lamb soup, a curried fish soup with Iceland cod and shrimps, and an Indian winter soup (with carrots, onions, lentils, coconut cream, crushed pineapple and Indian herbs and spices). In case you can’t determine, merely select the tasting menu (for one) the place you get to attempt three soups in three bowls.
No matter you select, they’re healthful and filling, they usually’ll even refill your bowl when you’d like extra!
Feeling suitably refreshed, we hopped again into the automobile and made our approach west alongside Route 1 to see the airplane wreck.
However first, I’ll give a bit background to the crash. It was again in 1973 {that a} US Navy transport airplane bumped into issue and crash-landed on the seashore at Sólheimasandur. The plane was flying from Hofn Hornafjördur Airport to Naval Air Station Keflavik, after delivering provides to the radar station at Stokksnes. Though reported because the wreck of a Douglas DC-3, it’s truly the stays of a transformed Douglas C-117.
Completely different theories abound as to what triggered the crash. The Airline Security Community states theat the airplane skilled extreme icing, ensuing within the crew being unable to keep up altitude, forcing thet airplane to land. Some say, although, that the crash occurred due to a failure by one of many pilots when switching between gas tanks, ensuing within the airplane operating out of gas and being compelled to land. Apparently there was thick fog and visibility was so poor that there have been occasions when the crew was unable to see the ideas of the wings.
There’s even confusion on the date of the crash. Many studies say it got here down on twenty fourth November 1973, but the Icelandic newspaper Morgunblaðið studies, on the twenty second November 1973, that it had crashed the day earlier than the date of publication. This date of twenty first November 1973 appears to be correct, and is backed up by the Aviation Security Community abstract.
No matter occurred, and on no matter date, each crew member survived with out important accidents and the stays of the airplane had been deserted on the seashore. The airplane was subsequently stripped by the US Navy of something of worth, however the primary fuselage nonetheless lies the place the airplane crashed. It has beforehand been used as storage by the farmer whose land it had crashed on, in addition to for goal follow by native hunters (which accounts for the bullet holes you would possibly see), however has since grow to be a vacationer attraction in its personal proper, most likely helped by protection it has obtained in music movies and on TV (see beneath).
You used to have the ability to drive all the way in which to the crash website, and even keep in a single day there, however each are now not potential. Though it’s located on personal land, you may, nevertheless, nonetheless go to and there’s a giant automobile park simply off the primary Route 1 ring highway.
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Most individuals go to on foot from right here, however there’s the choice to take the Aircraft Wreck Shuttle. Though individuals waited a short time for this after we had been there, it quickly materialised that it was not operating. Prior to now, there was the choice to rent a ‘fats bike’ however we noticed no proof of this on the time of our go to.
An indication tells guests that it takes 3-4 hours to hike each methods. This doesn’t appear all that reasonable in my view – on a very good day, I feel it may be carried out a method in about half-hour if strolling briskly or inside an hour if strolling at a extra comfy tempo. That mentioned, maybe a beneficiant time estimate is given for good motive because the climate can change shortly and might adversely have an effect on visibility, so it’s greatest to err on the aspect of warning. Do take care – an American vacationer died in 2017 near the airplane, as did two Chinese language vacationers of their early 20s in 2020, presumably caught out by hostile climate situations. It’s subsequently a good suggestion to test Iceland’s climate service (vedur.is) earlier than venturing out. And don’t overlook the emergency quantity in Iceland which is 112.
The trail to the airplane wreck is extra clearly outlined these days than it has been up to now, helped by occasional reflective markers within the floor, hopefully decreasing the chance of individuals getting misplaced. As walks go, it’s not a really thrilling one – you’re mainly strolling over a glacial outwash plain that appears like this.
Ultimately, after about two miles of this virtually post-apocalyptic panorama, the trail observe veers to the left and the airplane comes into view within the distance.
After we arrived, there have been individuals climbing throughout it. I’ve learn that that is unlawful however am undecided if that is true. Regardless, I wouldn’t advocate it – firstly, there are elements of the airplane that didn’t look very steady; secondly, it wouldn’t be an ideal place to slide and twist an ankle (or worse nonetheless, break a leg); and thirdly, it’s simply not very thoughtful to different individuals visiting and desirous to take images.
While the airplane wreck is sort of attention-grabbing to see and go searching, I don’t assume you’ll want that lengthy there after you have seen it. It’s an enchanting scene in the course of nowhere, surrounded by mile upon mile of nothingness – simply black sand so far as the attention can see.
You’ll be able to see contained in the dilapidated fuselage. Apparently the plane served in each Korean and Vietnamese wars earlier than being deployed to Iceland’s Keflavik Airport.
Not like lots of Iceland’s sights, the airplane wreck differtiates itself as a result of it’s totally synthetic, offering a putting distinction with its in any other case untouched pure setting.
This surreal scene – a gray fuselage set in opposition to a black backdrop and infrequently a gray sky, appears to be like extra like a scene from a science fiction film that it does actuality. For that reason additionally, after all, it represents a photographer’s paradise.
For quite a lot of years, the native Icelandic individuals didn’t regard the wreckage to be one thing of worldwide curiosity and fascination and even mentioned have it eliminated as a result of it was a blot on an in any other case untouched and pristine panorama.
Given its enduring recognition these days, it appears unlikely that this can ever occur. Nonetheless, I’m certain many would query the enchantment in visiting this wreck given the numerous pure wonders that you may go to in Iceland as a substitute.
Maybe it’s the otherworldly panorama that the wreck is about in in addition to the thriller that surrounds the crash that provides to the intrigue. One factor for certain is that the publicity that the wreck has obtained by means of varied media has actually elevated consciousness of, and curiosity in, the positioning. Maybe most famously of all, Justin Bieber’s video for the music I’ll Present You options him skateboarding on the highest of it. Watch from 2 minutes 11 seconds.
The music video for the music Gerua within the Bollywood movie Diwale sees actors Shah Rukh Khan (aka SRK) and Kajol posing on prime of the airplane. Watch from 1 min 31 seconds.
And the music video for the music Let Me In, from Korean lady group Loona, additionally options the airplane. Watch from 53 seconds.
Mercurio by Emis Killa is yet one more music video to characteristic the wreck. Watch from 1m 38 seconds.
Lastly, the airplane wreck additionally seems when Mikael encounters it within the Netflix sci-fi drama, Katla.
Planning a visit to Iceland your self? You’ll be able to watch a video from our journey to Iceland right here. You’ll be able to briefly see footage of the airplane wreck between 5m 23s and 5m 29s:
Disclosure: Our journey to Iceland was additionally sponsored by Helly Hansen.
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