Wegener Pillar — Arnarnes

Background

History & Background

The Wegener Pillar (Wegener-stöpullinn) is dedicated to Alfred Wegener (1880–1930), a German meteorologist, geophysicist, and polar researcher. Wegener is most famous for his theory of continental drift, which he first published in 1912. His hypothesis proposed that the continents were once joined together in a supercontinent called Pangaea and have since drifted apart. His theory was initially met with considerable resistance and skepticism from the scientific community, primarily because he could not provide a mechanism for how the continents moved. However, decades after his death, new evidence from ocean floor mapping, paleomagnetism, and seismic activity led to the development of plate tectonics, which validated and expanded upon Wegener's original ideas. The pillar in Iceland serves as a memorial to his enduring legacy and his connection to the geologically active North Atlantic region, where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge visibly demonstrates plate separation.

The Wegener Pillar stands by Hegranes on Arnarneshæð in Garðabær. Alfred Wegener erected the concrete pillar in April 1930; a corresponding pillar was also built in Öskjuhlíð. The Arnarnes pillar is a little over three metres high and has historical value as a tangible reminder of early geodetic work connected with Wegener’s continental-drift research. Garðabær has preserved the monument and added visitor information around it.