Maríuhellar
Maríuhellar are lava tube caves located in the
Svínahraun lava field, just northeast of the junction of Flóttavegur
and Heiðmerkurvegur roads, on the boundary between Urriðakot and
Vífilsstaðir. The lava originated from Búrfell, above Hafnarfjörður.
The cave system consists of three main caves: Vífilsstaðahellir,
Urriðakotshellir, and Draugahellir. Some also include a fourth nearby
cave, which in recent years has been referred to as Jósepshellir.
The first two caves, Vífilsstaðahellir and Urriðakotshellir, were
historically used as sheep shelters and are therefore sometimes
referred to as sheep caves. The northern cave was used by the farm
at Vífilsstaðir, while the other was used by Urriðakot.
In a land boundary description from Urriðakot dated 1890, the caves
are mentioned as “sheep caves near Vífilsstaðir, formerly known as
Maríuhellar.” The name Maríuhellar is believed to derive from the
caves’ former association with the Viðey monastery, which, along
with its church, was dedicated to Mary, the mother of God.
Photo: Anton Stefánsson
Maríuhellar er áhugaverður staður á Íslandi sem vert er að heimsækja.