Is Dimmuborgir Iceland’s Gate to Hell? The Shocking Tale Behind This Strange Lava Field

This is episode is part of my Folklore Friday series where I am sharing a Folklore story every Friday in 2024. To hear other stories, I have shared so far, check them out on my website All Things Iceland. 

How Dimmuborgir was Said to be formed?

Legend has it that Dimmuborgir, with its eerie rock formations and twisting lava fields, is more than just a natural wonder. Some say it’s a hidden gateway to a mysterious, parallel world – a realm where Iceland’s most elusive creatures reside.

Elves, trolls, and other mythical beings are said to call this shadowy place home, slipping in and out of our world through secret passages among the towering rocks.

In other tales, especially in Nordic Christian lore, Dimmuborgir takes on an even darker role. It’s believed to be the very spot where Satan crashed to Earth after being cast out of Heaven. From there, he is said to have forged the catacombs of Hell, using the strange landscape as his foundation.

For those who visit Dimmuborgir today, the air still hums with the legends of this supernatural past, making it feel as if you’re standing on the edge of another world.

Random Fact of the Episode

It is estimated that Dimmuborgir was created about 2,300 years ago after a huge volcanic eruption. It‘s a beautiful and sort of eery place. In North Iceland and can be part of your Diamond Circle route.

Explore Iceland on Your Own

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Go Campers – Camper Van Rental in Iceland

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Icelandic Word of the Episode

Dimmuborgir translates to “dark castles” or “dark cities.

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