The wild Djúpvegur road is mostly washed away

Tucked away on the northwestern part of Iceland, at the Westfjords peninsula, the Djúpvegur was one of the most dangerous roads in the country due to falling rocks and sudden avalanches. The road is currently closed to vehicles and accessible on foot.

The road was totally paved and linked the small towns of Bolungarvík and Hnífsdalur. It is 8km (4.97 miles) long and was one of the most dangerous roads in Iceland. It was built in 1949 and caused many casualties and deaths due the rockfalls and avalanches. It was closed in 2010 and now it’s mostly washed away. Always check your surroundings and keep an eye on the steep cliffs. The road provides very good views over the large bay, called "Ísafjarðardjúp". Extreme care is required: the road and its tunnels (very small ones) aren't being maintenanced anymore. Large holes can be present in the old tarmac and old fallen rocks are on the track. Also, after heavy snowfall, the road can be blocked by large heaps of snow.

Tucked away on the West Fjords of the country, on September 25, 2010, the old road was bypassed by a 5.4km long tunnel called Bolungarvíkurgöng, built through the mountains.
Pic: Andrew Slomka