<< Text Pages >> Rútshellir - Cave or Rock Shelter in Iceland
Submitted by CharcoalBurner89 on Monday, 14 March 2022 Page Views: 435
Natural PlacesSite Name: RútshellirCountry: Iceland Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Nearest Town: Vík í Mýrdal
Latitude: 63.522720N Longitude: 19.5726W
Condition:
5 | Perfect |
4 | Almost Perfect |
3 | Reasonable but with some damage |
2 | Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site |
1 | Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks |
0 | No data. |
-1 | Completely destroyed |
5 | Superb |
4 | Good |
3 | Ordinary |
2 | Not Good |
1 | Awful |
0 | No data. |
5 | Can be driven to, probably with disabled access |
4 | Short walk on a footpath |
3 | Requiring a bit more of a walk |
2 | A long walk |
1 | In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find |
0 | No data. |
5 | co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates |
4 | co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map |
3 | co-ordinates scaled from a bad map |
2 | co-ordinates of the nearest village |
1 | co-ordinates of the nearest town |
0 | no data |
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Cave or Rock Shelter in Iceland
Upwards to 200 man-made caves can be found on 90 farms in South Iceland, and 41 of them have been declared protected sites. They are virtually unknown elsewhere in the country. There are many stories about Rútshellir, which lies near a well-traveled road. For example, a troll (or man) named Rútur is said to have lived here (others say he was an evil chieftain) who was murdered in his sleep. On Katla Geopark (https://www.katlageopark.is/um-jardvanginn/jardvaettin/rutshellir-hrutafell/) you can find another story about a man named Rút and his slaves who wanted to kill him.
The main cave of Rútshellir is straight and arched and at least 20 metres long. It was used to store hay. The small cave, Stúkan, perpendicular to the main cave, is about 8 metres longer. It was probably a smithy. People might also have lived in the cave.
Entering the cave is allowed as long as no damage or dirt is left behind.
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