Black magic

Reynisfjara Beach, Vík, Iceland

White sands steal the limelight all over the world, from the isolated coves of Greek isles to the blinding strip on Australia’s Hyams Beach. But what about black sands? They show up in different parts of the globe, too – in the Hawaiian and Canary islands – but reveal their full splendour on this surreal beach, about a 15-minute drive from the town of Vík, in southern Iceland.

For thousands of years, the ferocious Atlantic Ocean has been whipping this coast, eroding its ebony volcanic cliffs and turning them to dust – or black sand – that now carpets the beach. Not everything has been diminished by the waves, though. Thousands of basalt columns still stand sentinel to this timeless tussle between land and sea. It’s a striking juxtaposition – frothy white waters, dark obsidian sand and stern soaring cliffs holding their own against the sheer force of the ocean.