Arnarstapi Webcam – See the Basalt Coast of Snaefellsnes

The Arnarstapi Webcam looks down on the small fishing harbor at Arnarstapi, a hamlet on the south coast of Iceland’s Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Moss-covered rock stacks rise straight out of green water on the left of the frame, a curved breakwater of dark boulders closes off the basin on the right, and a concrete quay runs along the bottom, where boats tie up and unload into waiting trucks. Beyond the harbor the shore bends away under a line of low cliffs, with the village houses scattered across the grass and snow-dusted mountains behind them. The picture follows the North Atlantic weather closely: cloud can sit on the peaks for days, swell breaks white outside the breakwater, and the sheltered water inside the basin keeps a milky green color.

About Arnarstapi

Arnarstapi sits at the foot of Stapafell, a 526 meter (1,726 foot) mountain on the southern shore of the peninsula, about 105 kilometers (65 miles) northwest of Reykjavik in a straight line across Faxafloi bay. The camera belongs to the harbor service of Snaefellsbaer, the municipality that also runs harbor cameras at Olafsvik and Rif on the north side of the peninsula. The place has been a point of trade for centuries. Under the Danish merchant monopoly, in effect here from 1565, Danish crown agents held trade rights over the area through the 17th and 18th centuries.

The coast between Arnarstapi and the neighboring village of Hellnar has been a nature reserve since 1979, covering 134.4 hectares (332 acres) of cliffs, gorges and rock stacks. Black-legged kittiwakes build their nests on the narrow ledges of the sea cliffs, and shags nest in clusters on the low cliffs and islets, so seabirds can cross the frame at any moment in the breeding season. The best-known formation on that shore is Gatklettur, a basalt arch on the coastal path to Hellnar.

Above the village, the peninsula climbs toward Snaefellsjokull, the glacier-capped volcano whose middle peak reaches about 1,446 meters (4,744 feet). Jules Verne placed the way down to the center of the planet on it in Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864). Local legend gives the mountain another resident: Bardur Snaefellsas, half man and half troll, is said to have vanished into the ice to become the guardian spirit of the peninsula. A large stone statue of him by the sculptor Ragnar Kjartansson stands near the shore at the edge of the village.

Weather and Climate in Arnarstapi

Open Atlantic water keeps winters here milder than the latitude suggests. January afternoons typically reach 1 to 3 C (34 to 37 F), with nights around -3 C (27 F), and the mountains behind the village can hold a dusting of snow from autumn into spring. Summer is cool rather than warm: July highs sit around 13 to 14 C (55 to 57 F), and nights rarely fall much below 8 C (46 F). April and October land in between, with highs of about 5 to 7 C (41 to 45 F).

Light is the bigger seasonal swing. At 64.8 degrees north, the village gets under four hours of daylight around the December solstice, and the midday sun then climbs less than 2 degrees above the horizon, so the winter picture is mostly a long, dim twilight. By late June the day lasts close to 22 hours, and the harbor stays light well past midnight. That makes late spring to early autumn the easiest time to watch the camera, when the long days give it the most hours of clear light on the stacks and the quay.

Things to Do Near Arnarstapi

The classic outing is the coastal path to Hellnar, an old horse trail along the protected cliffs that the Environment Agency of Iceland puts at about 30 minutes on foot. Many walkers start at the Bardur statue or at the harbor itself. On the way the path passes Gatklettur, the Stapagja canyons cut into the same shore, and the cliffs of Solvahamar are under an hour’s walk from the village. For a full day, a longer coastal hike links Budir with the beaches at Arnarstapi and Hellnar and takes 6 to 8 hours.

Snaefellsbaer lists a chain of visitor stops along this coast that pair well with a visit: the Raudfeldsgja gorge, the Londrangar rock pillars, the Djupalonssandur beach, the Saxholl crater, the bay at Skardsvik, and the waterfalls of Bjarnarfoss and Svodufoss. Near Hellnar, the Hellnahraun lava field is about 3,900 years old.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

Iceland’s other coastal cameras, from the north shore of the same peninsula to the cliffs of the south coast, are a short click away.

• Stykkisholmur Webcam
• Westman Islands Webcam
• Dyrholaey Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Arnarstapi located?

Arnarstapi is a hamlet in the municipality of Snaefellsbaer, on the south coast of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland. It lies about 105 kilometers (65 miles) northwest of Reykjavik in a straight line, although the drive around Faxafloi bay is much longer, and Hellnar is the next village along the coast.

What can you see on the Arnarstapi Webcam?

The camera looks over the harbor basin from the slope above it: rock stacks and cliffs on the left, the boulder breakwater on the right, the quay and a harbor building along the bottom, and the village houses and mountains in the background. Boats, trucks and seabirds come and go through the day.

What is the weather like in Arnarstapi?

Mild and changeable for its latitude. Winter highs are typically 1 to 3 C (34 to 37 F) with nights near -3 C (27 F), and July highs are around 13 to 14 C (55 to 57 F).

Why does the Arnarstapi Webcam stop after 10 minutes?

The video player that carries this camera pauses itself after 10 minutes of viewing. Press play again and the live picture comes straight back. If the picture stays frozen, the Snaefellsbaer harbor service asks people to report it to the town hall.

How long is the walk from Arnarstapi to Hellnar?

About 30 minutes each way along the coastal path through the nature reserve, according to the Environment Agency of Iceland. The path passes the Gatklettur arch and several sea gorges, so most people take longer than that.

What is the statue at Arnarstapi?

It is a large stone figure of Bardur Snaefellsas, the half man, half troll of the Bardar saga, made by the sculptor Ragnar Kjartansson. It stands near the shore at the edge of the village, and many walkers start the Hellnar path from it.

How much daylight does Arnarstapi get in winter?

Under four hours around the December solstice, with the sun barely 2 degrees above the horizon at noon. Late June brings close to 22 hours of daylight.

Source: Snaefellsbaer Harbors