klettur

Klettur is an Icelandic noun meaning a rock outcrop or cliff. It refers to a large, often solitary rock or to a segment of bedrock that protrudes from the surrounding terrain. In everyday use, it can describe any significant rock feature that stands out in a landscape, from coastal cliffs to mountain sides.

In geological terms, a klettur is a resistant rock formation that remains prominent after erosion wears away surrounding material. In Iceland, many klettir (the plural is klettir or klettarna in definite form) consist of basalt or other igneous rocks, contributing to the country’s characteristic rugged scenery, including sea cliffs, rock faces, and lava-formed ridges.

Etymology traces klettur to Old Norse klettr, with cognates found in other North Germanic languages that refer to rock or cliff. The word is commonly used in Icelandic toponymy to name places featuring notable rock features, and it appears in various form in contemporary maps and descriptions of terrain.

Klettur as a term emphasizes physical form and prominence within a landscape, rather than composition alone. It is a general descriptor applied across contexts—from scientific discussion of geomorphology to everyday references to notable rocks encountered in travel and outdoor activities.

See also: cliff, rock formation, outcrop, basalt, geology.