There are two man-made caves in the rock. The main cave is arched and at least 20 meters long and 2.5 meters high on average. It was used as an outhouse, for storing hay, and at a certain time, stockfish was stored in this cave. People might also have lived in the cave.
Rútshellir Cave in Hrútafell is said to be the largest man-made cave in Iceland and has many legends connected to it. The upper half contains an adjoining cave which is so high that at one time a 2nd floor was probably installed making this a double storey cave. Further in, there is a ledge that was undoubtedly used for sleeping. In the ceiling you will notice a carving of a cross. From this ledge, a hole leads down to the lower cave which is thought to have been made to allow the heat from the animals to rise and heat the upper chamber. There are many legends connected to this cave and the surrounding area. One such legend involves a man called Rút and his slaves who wanted to kill him. They proceeded to carve a hole under the ledge where Rút slept, so they could later on kill him with spears while he was sleeping. One night after arriving home, as he prepared to sleep he discovered their plot to kill him. He chased the slaves into the mountains and killed them all. The last slave, Guðni was killed on the glacier and this place is called today Guðnasteinn or Guðni’s stone.
View from the ferry harbor at Landeyjahöfn in Southern Iceland towards the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago, the Westman Islands.
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