DC-3 Plane Wreck

The wreckage on Sólheimasandur beach in South Iceland is the fuselage of a US Navy Douglas DC-3 that made an emergency landing on the black sand plain in 1973 after running out of fuel; all crew survived, but the plane was stripped of usable parts and left where it landed, slowly rusting into the striking silver shell seen today. Set alone in a vast, flat expanse of black volcanic sand with no other structures in sight, the wreck creates a stark, almost post-apocalyptic scene that has made it one of the most photographed single objects in Iceland. Reaching the site requires walking roughly 4 kilometers round trip from a designated parking area along the Ring Road, since vehicle access to the sand plain was closed off some years ago to protect the fragile terrain; the flat walk takes about an hour each way in each direction under normal conditions. Because the fuselage sits in an open, shadeless area, weather has a major effect on the mood of photographs, with overcast or foggy days producing a moodier, more atmospheric look and golden hour bringing warm tones to the metal exterior. There is no shelter, water, or facilities anywhere along the route or at the site itself. Given the wreck's fame, the walk and site are popular throughout the day, though early morning offers the best chance of having the plane free of other visitors.