Lómagnúpur Mountain is in the South East Iceland between Kirkjubæjarklaustur and Skaftafell. It is named after the Lómag – a bird that frequents the cliff face. Several huge landslides can be seen around the base of the mountain which is the highest cliff in Iceland.
The photo of Lómagnúpur Mountain above was taken from the Skaftafell side in the middle of the sandur (Icelandic desert). I love the way that you can see how the wind and weather interact with the Icelandic landscape. It is the wind patterns in the snow and sand that give this scenic photo interest throughout.
So quiet it hurts
At the time, it was so quiet that all I could hear was my mild tinnitus and it was so bright that I could see all my eye floaters. I never felt so old in the presence of Lómagnúpur Mountain. Obviously, it is not always painfully still and white. Experiences at Lómagnúpur change on an hourly basis.
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Lómagnúpur Mountain Landscape
The great thing about taking photos of the Icelandic landscape is that the land is so diverse that it teaches you photography as you shoot. Imagine a fashion photography workshop where you go through several different lighting setups along with backgrounds that alter in colour, shape, and aspect ratio. This would teach you a lot about fashion photography. Likewise, the changing light, colours and proportions of Iceland’s famous landscapes are a unique learning opportunity for any amateur enthusiast.
Because Lómagnúpur Mountain is right on the edge of the huge Vatnjokull glacier, Lómagnúpur Mountain can appear in a mixture of seasons in one photo. You can get great pictures from both sides of the mountain, and there are usually safe places to stop.
Núpsstaður Museum
On the eastern side of Lómagnúpur is a tiny church estate called Núpsstaður. If you were traveling by hose in the old, old days, Núpsstaður would be your resting place with blacksmith facilities before the treacherous journey across the sandur to the mountains and glaciers. If an Icelandic location includes ‘Staður’ in the name, it means there is a church on the estate. Núpsstaður has one of the tiniest chapels in the world. The tiny church has a turf roof like all the other old farm buildings.
Below is a photo of the Núpsstaður Chapel when access was allowed. Lómagnúpur Mountain is in the background.
Where to Stay
Lómagnúpur Mountain is almost exactly between Kirkjubæjarklaustur and Skaftafell National Park. Right next to the ring road, Lómagnúpur Mountain is an hour drive to Jokulsarlon Glacier lagoon and Diamond beach. Kirkjubæjarklaustur probably has the best choice of hotels in the area. The closest hotel to Lómagnúpur Mountain is Fosshotel Núpur.
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Kirkjubæjarklaustur Hotels
These hotels and guesthouses are a short drive from the Fjaðrárgljúfur River Canyon. My strong recommendation is the Adventure Hotel Geirland, with good quality rooms and a decent restaurant.
The closest to Fjaðrárgljúfur is Hunkubakkar Guesthouse which is actually walking distance to the canyon.
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