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Impressive cliffs over the town of Heimaey. In the background you can see mainland Iceland. PIC Jozelui

Impressive cliffs over the town of Heimaey. In the background you can see mainland Iceland. PIC Jozelui

Massive and impressive cliffs surround part of the town of Vestmannaeyjar on Heimaey island in Iceland providing excellent shelter for townspeople from anything the Atlantic ocean throws their way.

These towering cliffs are dotted with crevices, small openings and in places even a cave or two. Once in awhile in dark but calm evenings enterprising locals climb those cliffs and place large candles in a number of caves and holes found throughout.

This very simple thing makes for quite a show in the pitch black night in wintertime. Sadly, this is not something planned in advance and thus impossible to pinpoint a date but if in Heimaey over winter it might be worth it to ask around.

The very same cliffs offer fantastic views over this island town which has taken a heavy toll from nature and is well documented in various articles and documentaries about the volcano here in 1973. From here are also fantastic views over the South coast of the mainland on clear days and nights. In fact, some of the very best pics of the famous Eyjafjallajokul volcano and various other eruptions before that were taken from Heimaey.

But do be careful.