A rock formation off the coast of Iceland appears to look like a giant elephant emerging from the water.
The rock formation is located on the island of Heimaey, and it appears to be made entirely of basalt rock, which has an uncanny resemblance to elephant skin.
Heimaey is the largest island in Vestmannaeyjar archipelago, which is young set of islands formed via volcanoes. Eldfell, a volcano on Heimaey, last erupted in 1973.
The elephant on this island’s coast is formed from the volcanic basalt on the island.
Heimaey, the largest island, has a population of around 4,135. The other islands are uninhabited but have single hunting cabins.
When Eldfell erupted, about one-fifth of the town on the island, also called Vestmannaeyjar, was destroyed before the lava flow was stopped by nearly 6.8 billion liters of sea water.
“Elephant Rock” in Iceland. It’s not man made, that’s the cool part. pic.twitter.com/iX0mEiflzh
— Tempa (RIP Depz) (@QuickTempa) October 22, 2015
Of note, from 1998 to 2003, the island of Heimaey was the home to killer whale Keiko, who starred in “Free Willy.”
