厄斯库尤利德榴弹炮山（Öskjuhlíð Howitzer Hill）

Local Legend

A hidden WWII artillery site in Öskjuhlíð, where Reykjavík’s wartime defenses once overlooked the North Atlantic.

During World War II, the quiet hill of Öskjuhlíð was transformed into a strategic military position. What is now a peaceful forest near Perlan became part of the defensive network protecting Reykjavík. Allied forces installed artillery on the hill, using its elevated position to monitor the coastline and guard the harbor. Soldiers stationed here kept watch over the sea, playing a role in a broader effort to secure Iceland’s place in the North Atlantic during the war. After the conflict ended, the guns were removed and the area slowly returned to nature. Trees grew, paths formed, and the site became part of everyday life once again. Today, visitors walking through Öskjuhlíð can still sense this hidden layer of history beneath the forest landscape.