Your guide to the Arctic Henge in Raufarhöfn, Iceland
Just by the rugged coastline of North Iceland, you’ll find a dramatic stone formation. The Arctic Henge is the creative dream of a resident inspired by England’s famous Stonehenge.
Erlingur Thoroddsen wanted to bring more visitors to his home, Raufarhöfn, one of the most remote and northernmost villages in Iceland. He dreamt up the magical Arctic Henge: a central tower, 4 surrounding arches, and 72 dwarves carved from stone and taken from Norse mythology.
Inspired by the vast open landscape of his coastal home and the daylight cast by the midnight sun, Thoroddsen began building the henge in 1996. To determine the exact features, he looked to the famous Icelandic eddic poem Völuspá (‘Prophecy of the Seeress’).
His artist friend, Haukur Halldórsson, helped bring the vision to life. While it’s still under construction, the formations you’ll see today are already taking shape. Made entirely from locally quarried stone, the sculpture is a tribute to the north’s legends, myths and magic.
Stepping inside the circle, you’ll see the polar star pointer and a towering column topped with cut prism glass. Designed to capture the daylight of the Arctic Circle, the prism glass splits the sun’s rays into the primary colors before they hit the ground.
In fact, the Arctic Henge is almost like a huge sundial, aiming towards the midnight sun. If you visit near midsummer, you might catch a glimpse of this phenomenon framed by one of the stone arches.
While here, you can perch on the Throne of the Sun to snap an epic picture and clear your mind in the Hall of Rays. You can even lay a hand on the Altar of Fire and Water, where the power of the elements is honoured.
The best time to visit is in summer because this part of the country can sometimes be difficult to reach in wintertime. That said, if you venture here in the cold months, you might be rewarded by the sight of the Northern Lights glimmering above the stone circle.
To reach Raufarhöfn and see the Arctic Henge for yourself, just take a detour off the famous Ring Road. It’s well worth the time!
