Politician Árni Johnsen leads a group of Westmanislanders who have put forward a proposal to dig a tunnel through Heimaklettur cliff, Vestmannaeyjar Islands, to allow for easy access to Langan, a grassy inlet that stretches from the cliff out into the town’s harbour. The tunnel would be around 70 metres long (230 ft) and 4 metres (13 ft) wide.
Before the Heimaey eruption in 1973, Langan used to be a popular bathing spot among locals. The group’s intention is to re-establish Langan as an outdoor area. “Langan is a calm, beautiful location which would make for an excellent outdoor area,” Árni told newsagent Vísir.
Some residents oppose the idea to drill a tunnel into Heimaklettur, which is one of the oldest parts of the island, dating back ten thousand years. The cliff, standing 279 metres (915 ft) high, has become an emblem of sorts for Heimaey Island.
“This is an untouched part of the island and it should stay untouched,” says local Hulda Vatnsdal, adding that loose dirt and rocks regularly fall down the slopes of Heimaklettur, with a recent rockslide even landing on Langan. “I doubt the idea has been thought through,” she said.
Árni Johnsen was one of the main advocates for a tunnel between Heimaey Island and the mainland some years ago. Instead a new harbour was built in Landeyjar, south Iceland, shortening the time it takes to travel between the island and the mainland by nearly 2.5 hours.
The politician was sentenced to two years in prison in 2001 after he was found guilty of misappropriating public funds.
Politician Árni Johnsen leads a group of Westmanislanders who have put forward a proposal to dig a tunnel through Heimaklettur cliff, Vestmannaeyjar Islands, to allow for easy access to Langan, a grassy inlet that stretches from the cliff out into the town’s harbour. The tunnel would be around 70 metres long (230 ft) and 4 metres (13 ft) wide.
Before the Heimaey eruption in 1973, Langan used to be a popular bathing spot among locals. The group’s intention is to re-establish Langan as an outdoor area. “Langan is a calm, beautiful location which would make for an excellent outdoor area,” Árni told newsagent Vísir.
Some residents oppose the idea to drill a tunnel into Heimaklettur, which is one of the oldest parts of the island, dating back ten thousand years. The cliff, standing 279 metres (915 ft) high, has become an emblem of sorts for Heimaey Island.
“This is an untouched part of the island and it should stay untouched,” says local Hulda Vatnsdal, adding that loose dirt and rocks regularly fall down the slopes of Heimaklettur, with a recent rockslide even landing on Langan. “I doubt the idea has been thought through,” she said.
Árni Johnsen was one of the main advocates for a tunnel between Heimaey Island and the mainland some years ago. Instead a new harbour was built in Landeyjar, south Iceland, shortening the time it takes to travel between the island and the mainland by nearly 2.5 hours.
The politician was sentenced to two years in prison in 2001 after he was found guilty of misappropriating public funds.
