Vík í Mýrdal is the southernmost town in Iceland, located on the main ring road around the island, about 180 km by road southeast of Reykjavik.
Despite its small size (291 inhabitants, as of January 2011), it is the largest settlement of around 70 km (43 mi) and is an important parking spot, so it is indicated on traffic signs from a great distance. It is an important service center for the inhabitants and visitors of the coastal strip between Skógar and the western edge of the Mýrdalssandur glacier floodplain.
Despite its small size (291 inhabitants, as of January 2011), it is the largest settlement of around 70 km (43 mi) and is an important parking spot, so it is indicated on traffic signs from a great distance. It is an important service center for the inhabitants and visitors of the coastal strip between Skógar and the western edge of the Mýrdalssandur glacier floodplain.
Black sand is sand that is black in color. One type of black sand is a heavy, glossy, partly magnetic mixture of usually fine sands, found as part of a placer deposit. Another type of black sand, found on beaches near a volcano, consists of tiny fragments of basalt.
While some beaches are predominantly made of black sand, even other color beaches (e.g. gold) can often have deposits of black sand, particularly after storms. Larger waves can sort out sand grains leaving deposits of heavy minerals visible on the surface of erosion scarps.
While some beaches are predominantly made of black sand, even other color beaches (e.g. gold) can often have deposits of black sand, particularly after storms. Larger waves can sort out sand grains leaving deposits of heavy minerals visible on the surface of erosion scarps.
