This basalt rock formation on the island of Heimaey in Southern Iceland looks just like a giant elephant or wooly mammoth dipping its trunk into the sea.

Heimaey is the largest island in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago, which is a geologically young set of islands formed by volcanoes. When Heimaey’s Eldfell volcano erupted in 1973, the villagers successfully diverted the lava flows from their harbor by pumping cold saltwater upon it.

The volcanic basalt that is present across the island is also responsible for the formation of the elephant rock that is visible from its stunning beaches and draws many tourists. View the magnificent creation of our breathtaking environment below!