Visiting various parts of the Snæfellness Peninsula is undeniably the most remarkable and exhilarating experience I’ve ever had. If given the chance–rain, sleet, snow, storm, or shine–I would walk along the Armarstapi and Hellnar cliffs without hesitation for every day from now until I no longer can or am blown into the waters below. While yesterday’s landscapes were from another planet, today’s were from another universe as it’s nearly impossible to believe that something so incredible coexists with humans. I cannot fathom how something so beautifully destructive could lie in a world riddled with a species who destroys beauty. Being so unique, I would argue the landscapes over the past two days cannot be directly compared, but they certainly fit together within the realm of Iceland’s awe and mystique.
The cliffs themselves are honorable as they stand with striking posture and distinguishment. With the addition of the crashing waves, an entirely new dimension is added and the cliffs become curiously powerful. As we learned yesterday, the rock formations on the outermost part of the island are the oldest as the centrally located hot spot above the diverging tectonic plates adds to the size of the island starting from the inside and working outwards. It is a marvel that any cliffs could remain standing at their old age and the brutal forces they oppose, and I am motivated by their resilience. I genuinely believe that not a day of my life will go by without recalling the intensity of the restless water pressing up against the gallant cliffs, and I anticipate that future traveling will be dedicated to finding feats of nature with similar impact (if not returning to those exact cliffs and pacing the paths above the fierce water below).
Swanson School of Engineering 