The Elves of Iceland | Explorer

Many a culture is home to a mythical beast, an elusive creature that thrives in the imagination, if not verifiable reality. The Scots have Nessie monstrously hiding in its Highland Loch. Nepal has the abominably unverified Yeti. Even New Jersey has its own devil roaming the Pine Barrens, hell-bent on scaring the bejesus out of unsuspecting campers.

And here in majestic Iceland, there are the elves, who you really don't want to cross, especially if you happen to be into sub-arctic tunnel construction.

“Why are you saying that this project is running two years late?”

“Possibly absolutely because of owls.”

Hmm, the look of a journalist trying to remain open-minded. Surely the government body overseeing Iceland's infrastructure projects can't take all of this elf roberge seriously, as a government policy or possibly government custom, to take into account potential elf habitation when putting in roads and that sort of thing.

“We are not going to look at a line for a road; don't think maybe their heirs are there or they were there. It's more like if something comes up, and come up it has.”

In 2013, the government allowed a new road to be delayed by apparently invisible elves inside one giant rock.

“Alice's after the Earl's gave permission.”

“Yeah, I mean our lady who told us that this was probably a chapel and there were alps living there.”

“She said belief in unseen rock-dwelling elves has been around since the Vikings arrived in this country over a thousand years ago. Apparently, Norse beliefs die hard because an elf lady and taxpayer kronor to move a 70-ton boulder is no big deal in this Icelandic government department.”

“It’s nice to sort of think about hidden people covering in the rocks and everywhere. I mean, it would be really, really nice if they were there.”