Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
5 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
5 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
6 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
8 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the Faroe Islands Oyndarfjørður Rinkusteinar

Rinkusteinar

Two massive boulders, rocking back and forth with the ebbing of the sea.

Oyndarfjørður, Faroe Islands

Added By
David Minkin
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
One of the rocking boulders   Erik Christensen via Wikimedia
One of the rocking boulders   Erik Christensen via Wikimedia
A sign points the way   Erik Christensen via Wikimedia
July 2018   knoflookperser / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In the Faroe Islands, two huge and mysterious boulders have been rocking away in the sea for as long as anyone can remember.

Located on the northeastern edge of the island of Eysturoy, the village of Oyndarfjørður has all of 180 residents and was effectively completely isolated until 1969, when a paved road was finally completed. Just before the entrance to the village, there is a sign for the pathway to the rocking stones (Rinkusteinar), which are nestled off the side of the road near the inlet where the locals keep their boats.

The stones themselves are a few meters from shore. Although they must weigh several tons each, they lightly bob along with the rocking of the sea (or at least one does - the second has been wedged into a permanent position by two stone blocks). Legend has it that an old sorceress cursed two pirate ships that were menacing the village - turning them to stone and condemning them to an eternity of restless rocking, tantalizingly close a forbidden shore.

A chain connected to the mainland makes it easier to see the rock’s movements and - on a quiet day - you can hear the water mumble around the stone’s subtle disturbance.

Related Tags

Natural Wonders Rocks Geological Oddities Geology Nature

Community Contributors

Added By

The Minx

Edited By

hana, knoflookperser

  • hana
  • knoflookperser

Published

December 17, 2015

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyndarfj%C3%B8r%C3%B0ur
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyndarfj%C3%B8r%C3%B0ur
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1FgHdv75xU
  • http://www.visitfaroeislands.com/en/be-inspired/diving/diving-sites/eysturoy/
Rinkusteinar
Oyndarfjørður
Faroe Islands
62.276329, -6.855419

Nearby Places

James Bond's Grave

Kalsoy, Faroe Islands

miles away

Kallur Lighthouse

Kalsoy, Faroe Islands

miles away

Skarð

Kunoy, Faroe Islands

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Faroe Islands

Faroe Islands

Europe

Places 14
Stories 1

Nearby Places

James Bond's Grave

Kalsoy, Faroe Islands

miles away

Kallur Lighthouse

Kalsoy, Faroe Islands

miles away

Skarð

Kunoy, Faroe Islands

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Faroe Islands

Faroe Islands

Europe

Places 14
Stories 1

Related Places

  • Looking Glass Rock seen from the Looking Glass Rock Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway

    Brevard, North Carolina

    Looking Glass Rock

    This granite rock face is named for the magnificent reflection that occurs when the sun hits it just right.

  • Sasso Menicante on Monte Cimino

    Soriano nel Cimino, Italy

    Sasso Menicante (Trembling Stone)

    This massive rock balanced for thousands of years being tossed here during a volcanic eruption.

  • Bonhomme de Bourail

    Bourail, New Caledonia

    Bonhomme de Bourail

    A beachside monolith shaped by years of waves crashing against hard quartz.

  • Growing Rock of Usterling.

    Usterling, Germany

    Growing Rock of Usterling

    Nestled within a German forest is an intriguing, growing rock.

  • The Devil’s Nest.

    Nokia, Finland

    Pirunpesä (The Devil's Nest)

    This honeycomb-textured tafone looks like a petrified troll head.

  • Hengifoss.

    Iceland

    Hengifoss

    The bright red stripes streaking across the rocks are the star feature at this Icelandic waterfall.

  • Sculptured rocks.

    Hebron, New Hampshire

    Sculptured Rocks

    This narrow canyon has been carved by the river over thousands of years into spectacular and curious forms.

  • Similar rock formations cover other parts of the hill

    Cusco, Peru

    Rodadero Slides

    Did Inca children also slide down these smooth rocky slopes above Cusco?

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.