Stiklað á steinum

Join us for an enriching educational experience for the whole family as we explore the geology of Kópavogur and its surrounding area.

The event begins in the lobby of the Nature Museum, from where participants will head out to the nearby hill to examine its most notable landmarks and geological formations. Children will receive a fun activity to complete during the walk and will have the opportunity to create a simple geological model at the museum afterwards. The programme is designed to be engaging and rewarding for visitors of all ages.

The session will be led by geologist Snæbjörn Guðmundsson, who has spent many years introducing the public to the geology of Iceland through his work.

The geology of Kópavogur is particularly fascinating. During the Ice Age, glaciers flowed from the Icelandic Highlands and the Blue Mountains (Bláfjöll), eroding the ancient lava formations of the Capital Region while simultaneously shaping the town’s landscape. At the end of the last Ice Age, around ten to eleven thousand years ago, sea levels in the area rose significantly. At that time, the hill on which Kópavogur Church now stands emerged from the sea as an island just off the coast. Evidence of this can still be seen today in the wave-worn boulders surrounding the church. The hill, known as Borgir, was designated a protected natural monument in 1981.

From the top of the hill, visitors can look south towards the active volcanic zone of the Reykjanes Peninsula and north towards ancient central volcanoes and the several-million-year-old lava formations of Mount Esja and the mountains beyond Hvalfjörður. The area offers a clear view of the complex interaction between numerous young and ancient geological processes that have continuously created and shaped Iceland’s landscape over millions of years.

Admission is free.

Everyone is welcome!