Vestrahorn mountains, black sand beach, sunset, Stokksnes

Sunset at Stokksnes

Vestrahorn rises dramatically from Iceland's southeastern coast, its hornlike peaks accenting the black volcanic sand of Stokksnes Beach. Composed of ancient gabbro and granophyre, the massif is one of the few in Iceland made from intrusive igneous rock rather than surface lava. The Stokksnes headland is a favorite spot among photographers for its moody skies and mirror-like reflections, and it also holds cultural significance: Vestrahorn figures prominently in local folklore as well as on Icelandic postage stamps.