LAGARFLJÓTS WORM
In Egilsstadir is Lagarfljót which spreads out to the south. It is about 52 square kilometers, 35 km long and from 1 to 2.5 meters wide. What makes Lagarfljót unique is it's depth in some places it is up to 112 meters in depth. This huge lake is always mouse gray of glacial clay from Jokulsá in Fljótsdal. Wastewater appearance of the water, the great depth and strange gas in some places, contributed in making this river the mysterious and legendary river that formed early legends. Lagarfljótsormurinn, water monster who is believed to live in the river in Fljótsdalshérað. It was first mentioned in the annal[1] in the middle of the 14th century. After that he appeared regularly to men, through most of the 17th century. Usually he appeared to men ahead of big news and it originated as other water monsters. The story of Lagarfljót Serpent reads:
"Sometime in ancient times lived a woman in a town a few in the province of Lagarfljót. She had a daughter that she gave a gold ring. The daughter asked her mother how she could most benefit from this gold, and her mother told her to place the ring under a lyngorm. The girl then takes the lyngorm and puts gold under him and put it in a box. The worm lays there for several days. But when the girl goes to see the boxe, the worm has become so large that the container is about to break apart outside of him. The frightened girl, takes the box and throws it in the river.
A long time later people begin to notice a worm in the water. He then harms both humans and animals that go on the river. Sometimes he stretched himself to the edge and spat a fearsome venom. Men thought that the worm was trouble but for a long time didn't know how to handle him. Finally, two skilled men from Finland were brought to the country. They were instructed to kill the worm and reach the gold.
A long time later people begin to notice a worm in the water. He then harms both humans and animals that go on the river. Sometimes he stretched himself to the edge and spat a fearsome venom. Men thought that the worm was trouble but for a long time didn't know how to handle him. Finally, two skilled men from Finland were brought to the country. They were instructed to kill the worm and reach the gold.
The Fins plunged into the river, but were soon up again. They told everyone that it was a lost battle and it was not an easy mission. It would not be possible to kill the worm nor get the gold. Also, they said that another worm was under the gold and he was a much worse deal. But they dived again and again and were able to put two bands around the worm. They put one band on the back of the flippers and one at the front of the tail. After that the worm could not hurt a human nor an animal, but sometimes you can see the hump from his back, and it is usually seen before great and big news. "[2]
After this event Skorrdælir were aware of the monster in the lake and feared no longer to go fishing for salmon out on the water. People saw the monster of the land and said that the individual parts of the monster, head, tail or middle, would come up from time to time. Many saw a black streak or high spine in the lake and said it was the worm. Usually the worm was seen in the day and as stated before, people often saw him before big news. It is said that he was seen before the plague in 1495 and the smallpox outbrake in 1707 in the days of Hallgrimur Pétursson (1614-1674) the monster was seen often as the people became scared of the worm and that it would hurt communities nearby.
After this event Skorrdælir were aware of the monster in the lake and feared no longer to go fishing for salmon out on the water. People saw the monster of the land and said that the individual parts of the monster, head, tail or middle, would come up from time to time. Many saw a black streak or high spine in the lake and said it was the worm. Usually the worm was seen in the day and as stated before, people often saw him before big news. It is said that he was seen before the plague in 1495 and the smallpox outbrake in 1707 in the days of Hallgrimur Pétursson (1614-1674) the monster was seen often as the people became scared of the worm and that it would hurt communities nearby.
"It seemed that a strange thing in Lagarfljót and Fljótsdalshérað, and people know that it was alive; it seemed to sometimes shoot up loops, and swim in between lanes. Nobody knows it and it hasn't been seen neither the head nor the tail, and knew not what kind of a surprise it was "[3]
A fraction of a poem written by Jónas Hallgrímsson:
The wyrm now heaved its ugly hump
above the Lake and shook its rump.
Twenty-eight yards, as plain to tell
as the number of portals into hell.
This is how Jónas Hallgrímsson describes the mysterious snake in the river. The worm is like a serpent. He is enormous and very brutal. He is very long and has a big mouth and the eats the rest of animal carcasses and the vegetation emitted Lagarfljót. Energyless nutrition in the lake causes the worm to stay in the bottom of the lake and move only his head and neck. To make it easier to swallow, it must curve its neck to the surface. That's how the rough bits get down in the stomach. Lagarfljótsormurinn is one of the oldest mystic creatures in Iceland. Today we still get reports of the worm being seen. Last report that received attention was in 2012 when the farmer Hjörtur Kjerúlf cought strange movement on the surface of the water in a video. The video got so much attention because no one could fully explain what was seen on the recording. Foreign media told the story of Lagarfljót worm and the interest of people increased greatly. No one knows exactly what is on the move in the river. Some say that the worm is an ancient lizard that scientists believe is exticnt. Others seek answers in mysticism.
[1] Annal is a source where news are told from year to year
[2] Bls. 122-123 í bókinni Þjóðsögur við þjóðveginn eftir Jón R. Hjálmarsson
[3] Gustav Storm (ritstjórn) (1845-1903): Skálholtsannáll, bls 211.
[2] Bls. 122-123 í bókinni Þjóðsögur við þjóðveginn eftir Jón R. Hjálmarsson
[3] Gustav Storm (ritstjórn) (1845-1903): Skálholtsannáll, bls 211.