Geirfuglasker

18th-century sketch of Geirfuglasker

Former location of Geirfuglasker among the Fuglasker islands

Geirfuglasker ("Great Auk Rock") was a small islet near Reykjanes, Iceland. It was volcanic rock with steep sides except for two landing places. The rough surf around the island usually made it inaccessible to humans, and one of the last refuges for the flightless bird, the great auk (which was also called "garefowl" — "geirfugl" in Icelandic). In a volcanic eruption in 1830 this rock submerged. The surviving great auks moved to a nearby island called Eldey and were wiped out by humans several years later. Later a new Geirfuglasker appeared on the site.

Another island by the same name is located east of Surtsey in the Vestmannaeyjar.

In literature

It, and the fate of the great auk, is mentioned (spelled "Gairfowlskerry") in The Water-Babies, A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby by Charles Kingsley.

Islands of Iceland

Drangey Eldey Flatey in Breiðafjörður Flatey in Skjálfandi Geirfuglasker Grímsey Hrísey Kolbeinsey Lundey Málmey Papey Vestmannaeyjar Elliðaey Heimaey Hellisey Surtsey Viðey

Coordinates: 63°19.0698′N 20°29.8168′W / 63.3178300°N 20.4969467°W / 63.3178300; -20.4969467

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