Reynisfjara's Latest Chapter

February 2026

I visited Reynisfjara's black sands in June 2025, capturing the dramatic basalt columns and crashing Atlantic waves. I didn't know it was the last time I’d see it like this.

This week, a significant cliff collapse and erosion temporarily closed the beach. The coastline shifted.

What Happened (the technical stuff)?

This wasn't gradual, it was the result of an unusual weather pattern occurring over the winter.

Sustained easterly winds generated powerful waves and, critically, reversed normal sand movement along the coast. Instead of flowing eastward to replenish Reynisfjara, sand moved westward and became trapped against Reynisfjall, the massive basalt promontory beside the beach.

Without its protective sand buffer, waves hammered directly into the basalt cliffs and the collapse happened.

According to coastal engineer Sigurður Sigurðarson, a broad high-pressure system north of Iceland combined with deep low-pressure systems to the south created perfect conditions for dramatic coastal change.

This is geology happening in real-time.

A New Chapter, Not an Ending

I'm grateful to have experienced this version of Reynisfjara, but I'm not mourning it. These basalt columns have been reshaping themselves for hundreds of years. This is just another chapter in Iceland's ever-evolving story.

Reynisfjara Beach became famous partly due to convenience as it’s an easy south coast stop for tours from Reykjavík. But Iceland is filled with equally stunning black sand beaches and basalt formations that see a fraction of the visitors. I’m excited for our trip in June and to explore beyond the popular tourist spots like this one.

I feel the collapse corroborates my intent to discover the hidden coastlines, and to appreciate that these landscapes are never static.

Last years photographs now capture a moment that exists only in memory. I’m intrigued to see Reynisfjara beach's new appearance. The basalt will still be there. The waves will still crash. It will just be different.

And that's okay. Earth keeps changing. Our job is to keep observing and take notes.

View photographs from Reynisfjara Beach (June 2025) in the gallery here.

Sources: RÚV, Grapevine.is, Iceland Monitor