Huldufólk: The Hidden People Guarding Iceland's Landscape

In 2013, a new highway project connecting the Álftanes peninsula to Garðabær in Iceland was temporarily delayed by an unusual alliance. On one side was the environmental group Hraunavinir, determined to protect the Gálgahraun lava field. On the other side was Ragnhildur Jónsdóttir, a local woman who claimed to communicate with the Huldufólk and argued the project would destroy Ófeigskirkja—a 50-ton basalt rock she believed to be a church for the hidden people.

This conflict attracted international media attention with sensational narratives that Icelandic road construction was halted by elves. However, the reality on the ground was far more bureaucratic and pragmatic. The highway was eventually built. As part of the conflict's resolution, the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration (IRCA) agreed to carefully relocate the 50-ton boulder to another location within the lava field.

Cases like this do not mean Icelandic authorities accept the existence of the Huldufólk literally. Local tradition can be one of the social and cultural factors considered when projects intersect with locations deemed important by the community. In some development conflicts, the protection of an "elf rock" can also align with efforts to preserve the surrounding natural landscape.

When Folklore Meets Development

Folklorist Valdimar Tr. Hafstein, in his 2000 paper published in the journal Fabula, discusses how stories about elves can be used by local communities in conflicts over landscape changes and development. In a modern context, stories of the hidden people can serve as a tool for social negotiation to slow down change or advocate for environmental protection. Hafstein also notes that in various stories, the Huldufólk are often depicted resembling Icelanders, but living hidden within the landscape, often wealthier and in control of nature.

Huldufólk in the Modern Era

Today, this dynamic has changed significantly. Huldufólk stories are now also part of Reykjavík's tourism industry, ranging from folklore-themed tours to various souvenirs.

The Gálgahraun case demonstrates that conflicts between development, landscape preservation, and Huldufólk traditions have indeed influenced decisions regarding specific objects. However, this does not mean every curved road or preserved rock in Iceland is related to a belief in elves.

The Gálgahraun case shows that the Huldufólk still have a place in modern Icelandic conversations—not because every official believes there are elves inside rocks, but because folklore, landscape, and local identity are not always easily separated. The road was eventually built. The rock was not destroyed, but relocated.