An interest group called Hraunavinir (‘Lava Friends’) is planning to sue over the making of a new road to Álftanes from Engidalur in Garðabær, across the lava field Gálgahraun, and to a roundabout opposite Bessastaðir, the presidential residence.
Bessastaðir. Photo: Páll Kjartansson/Iceland Review.
Seer and piano instructor Erla Stefánsdóttir maintains that the elf boulder Ófeigskirkja will be destroyed in the process and fears that wrath of dwarves in the hidden world will cause accidents on the road, Fréttablaðið reports.
Reynir Ingibjartsson, who chairs Hraunavinir, stresses that the group is not critical of any other parts of the road than the one across Gálgahraun.
He states that Hraunavinir managed a few years back to save significant rocks in the lava field where painter Jóhannes Kjarval made some of his most famous artworks.
“Then town authorities listened to us. The apartment lots that were supposed to be located there were crossed out [of plans] without a fuss,” Reynir recounted.
He points out that various relics and ancient walking paths will be destroyed with the new road across Gálgahraun. He is particularly concerned about Ófeigskirkja.
Members of Hraunavinir, including Erla and another seer, went there last Wednesday. Fréttablaðið could not get hold of Erla but Reynir said she is extremely worried about the planned road.
“Erla fears that accidents will occur there. She says that in the hidden world in the lava—which she can see but is invisible to us—there is great anger, especially among the dwarves,” Reynir explained.
Ragnhildur Jónsdóttir, who is a seer like Erla, talked about a plea coming from the lava, he added.
When asked whether he believed the testimonies of seers, Reynir responded that surveys indicate that the majority of Icelanders believe that there can be life in the landscape and that there are many stories of the Icelandic Road Administration giving in to superstition.
“You only have to look at Erla Stefánsdóttir to be convinced that this woman can see through hills and rocks,” Reynir concluded.
Author and activist Andri Snær Magnason also harshly protested the road across Gálgahraun in an open letter to Garðabær authorities in Fréttablaðið on Saturday, for environmental and cultural reasons.
Related:
28.10.2012 | Bike Path to Avoid Elf Home
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