Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Iceland Dimmuborgir

Dimmuborgir

These ominous lava formations were said to be an entrance to the netherworld so of course they inspired a famous metal band.

Iceland

Added By
David Minkin
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The Church   Chmee2 on Wikipedia
Dimmuborgir   JasonParis on Flickr
Dimmuborgir   Gesturpa on Wikipedia
  rudimarnitz / Atlas Obscura User
The Gateway to Hell   cjklever / Atlas Obscura User
  LucyG / Atlas Obscura User
In Fall   Klara / Atlas Obscura User
  alcaparra26 / Atlas Obscura User
  254z82xr5p / Atlas Obscura User
  LucyG / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Iceland has countless picturesque volcanic features, but possibly none is more ominously named as the Dimmuborgir site near Mývatn Lake in the country's northland. 

The volcanic field is covered in jagged black lava stacks and caves that were formed in a massive eruption some 2,300 years ago. At the time of the eruption, there was likely a small body of water at the site that filled with lava, creating unique features once the excess magma flowed away, leaving the bleak geology behind. One of the most impressive features is a naturally formed rock arch known as "The Church."

The name Dimmuborgir translates to "Dark Castles," or "Dark Cities," and the ominous name is a fitting monicker not only thanks to the eerie rock formations but also thanks to the creepy folklore associated with the site. Dimmuborgir has often been associated with hell, often as a gate to the nether realms. As Christianity came to the country the site was said to be where Satan landed when after being tossed out of Heaven. More traditional folklore says that the lava field is the home of the endlessly creepy Icelandic trolls known as The Yule Lads. These proto-Santa figures are mischievous trolls with names like Spoon-Licker and Window-Peeper.

All of this stark geology and creepy mythology doesn't just sound like a heavy metal dream, the site inspired the name of black metal legends, Dimmu Borgir. Rocks have never looked so metal, or so beautiful.   

Related Tags

Geology Volcanoes Music Rocks Rock Formations
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Iceland in Summer: Journey through the South Coast & the Westman Islands

Explore Iceland's Myths, Wonders, & Landscapes.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

The Minx

Edited By

Mike Portanova, Blindcolour, aribrown, EricGrundhauser...

  • Mike Portanova
  • Blindcolour
  • aribrown
  • EricGrundhauser
  • dacubsrule
  • Klara
  • cjklever
  • 254z82xr5p
  • rudimarnitz
  • alcaparra26
  • LucyG

Published

July 16, 2015

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.visithusavik.com/attractions/dimmuborgir-lava-formations/
  • http://www.edgeofthearctic.is/places-to-see/dimmuborgir/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimmuborgir
  • http://www.lamedon.de/urlaub/island/is-m35_en.html
  • https://guidetoiceland.is/travel-iceland/drive/dimmuborgir
Dimmuborgir
Dimmuborgir
Iceland
65.590278, -16.899444

Nearby Places

Sigurgeirs Bird Museum

Husavik, Iceland

miles away

Námaskarð

Iceland

miles away

Námafjall

Iceland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Iceland

Iceland

Europe

Places 149
Stories 41

Nearby Places

Sigurgeirs Bird Museum

Husavik, Iceland

miles away

Námaskarð

Iceland

miles away

Námafjall

Iceland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Iceland

Iceland

Europe

Places 149
Stories 41

Related Places

  • Steins Pillar.

    Prineville, Oregon

    Steins Pillar

    This great stone guardian of the forest is a relic from the land's volatile volcanic past.

  • Tumuli near Byaduk

    Byaduk, Australia

    Tumuli Lava Blisters

    These naturally occurring but rare geological formations are each about the size of a small house.

  • Cuexcomate

    Puebla, Mexico

    Cuexcomate

    The "world's smallest volcano" has been used to store meals and dispose of dead bodies.

  • Fragokefala at Lemnos

    Lemnos, Greece

    Volcanic Rocks of Lemnos

    An alien landscape on the banks of the Aegean Sea.

  • A beach on the island with distinctive rock formations.

    Malpe, India

    Thonsepar

    These four small islands contain unique hexagonal rock formations.

  • Window arch in the City of Rocks.

    Almo, Idaho

    City of Rocks

    This U.S. natural reserve is an ancient spiritual place and rock climber’s paradise.

  • Colorful sandstone cliff just west of the Colorock Quarry.

    Moapa Valley, Nevada

    Buffington Pockets

    The rocks exposed at Valley of Fire State Park also occur in a much less known but equally spectacular area a few miles to the southwest.

  • Grampian, Pennsylvania

    Bilger's Rocks

    Rocky outcrops containing overhangs, caves, fissures, clefts, and alcoves that invite exploration and scrambling.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.