Kapelluhraun

The rugged and barren Chapel Lava Field or the New Lava Field spreads between the town Hafnarfiord and Cove Straumsvik.  According to chronological research, it was created between 1010 and 1020.  Directly opposite to the Aluminium Smelter is a lava mound with a ruin of a prayer chapel, probably dating back to catholic times.  In 1950 it was examined and a statuette of St Barbara was discovered.  A replica of the statuette was made and placed in the ruin, but the original is kept in the National Museum in Reykjavik.  A large area of the lava field around the chapel ruin has been quarried for street construction and house foundations and flattened.


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