Protection Status
The hydrothermal chimneys were designated a natural monument in 2007. The objective of the protection designation is to preserve their distinctive geological formations and ecosystems, biological diversity, and the exceptional natural phenomena associated with the chimneys, including their formation processes, chemical composition, appearance, and structure, as well as the unique microbial ecosystems that thrive there under unusual environmental conditions.
The hydrothermal chimneys are located in Eyjafjörður, north of Arnarnesnöf, at a depth of approximately 65 metres. One chimney rises to around 33 metres below sea level, while the other reaches approximately 15 metres below sea level.
Part of the uniqueness of the chimneys lies in their unusual size, reaching heights of up to 10 metres, which is exceptional for formations of this kind.