Sólheimasandur, Iceland — US Navy DC-3 plane wreck on the black sand beach
The wreck of a United States Navy Douglas DC-3 has rested on the black volcanic sands of Sólheimasandur, on Iceland’s south coast, since November 1973. The aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing after running out of fuel due to a fuel tank selection error — all crew survived. Over the decades that followed, the fuselage has been slowly weathered by the wind and salt air of the North Atlantic, its metal bleached and battered until it became one of the most distinctive and widely visited landmarks in Iceland. The walk across the flat, featureless black sand to reach the wreck — around four kilometres from the nearest road — gives the approach a quality of isolation that is difficult to find elsewhere. This photography print captures the aircraft against the vast expanse of the beach and the open sky, a composition that works particularly well as wall art at larger sizes, where the scale and texture of the scene become fully apparent.
Sólheimasandur sits between the glaciers of Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull, in a stretch of the south coast that is defined by its volcanic geology and its exposure to the elements. The plane wreck has become one of those subjects that draws photographers from around the world, not because it is conventionally beautiful, but because it is genuinely unlike anything else — a piece of aviation history absorbed into one of the most dramatic landscapes on earth. Whether you’re looking for a bold and distinctive piece of home decor, a conversation-starting artwork for a living room, hallway or office, or an unusual and thoughtful gift for someone with a love of Iceland, aviation or dramatic landscape photography, this print offers something genuinely different.
This was a super surreal thing to look at, the plane looks out of this world sat on the black sand beach
✅ Perfect For
- Icelandic and Scandinavian-themed home decor
- Fans of aviation history, volcanic landscape and black sand beach photography
- Gifts for Iceland lovers, south coast visitors and dramatic landscape photography admirers
- Statement wall art in living rooms, hallways, offices or studies
- Contemporary, industrial and Nordic-inspired interiors
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🖼️ This image comes in either a Canvas, or Framed or non-Framed print. SEE TABS for more INFO
Printed on high-quality Fujitsu archive paper for stunning results, comes as a Lustre giving a semi-gloss finish.
Gloss prints also available on request.
All print sizes are the sizes to fit a frame - NOT the printed image size - SEE BORDER TAB for more INFO.
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🎁 GIFT WRAPPING SERVICE:
Your gift will be wrapped in Two Tone Ribbed Kraft paper in either Brown or Dark Green (let me know if you have a preference) and completed with a rustic twine tied bow
🚚 FREE UK SHIPPING - FREE INTERNATIONAL OVER £45
All pieces of art are signed on the lower left and no other writing will be on the product.
NOTE: I can't ship larger Frames abroad. In this case I will contact you and send a refund for the frame. See Shipping Policy for more info
5% of all sales donated to the WWF charity.
🌍 Explore More
If you’re drawn to the volcanic landscapes, remote beaches and dramatic locations of Iceland and Scandinavia, there’s plenty more to explore across the collections.
Browse our full range of Scandinavian photography prints and Icelandic volcanic landscape wall art — Sólheimasandur, Kirkjufell, the Lofoten Islands and iconic Nordic locations, available as framed prints and canvas.
Explore our seascape and coastal photography prints and Icelandic black sand beach wall art — volcanic shorelines, ocean scenes and dramatic coastal landscape photography, available as framed prints and canvas.
Discover our mountain and highland photography prints and Nordic upland landscape wall art — Icelandic peaks, Norwegian ridgelines and dramatic Scandinavian mountain photography, available as framed prints and canvas.
You might also like these prints from the same collection:
- Tromsø Norway Red Nordic Hut Snow Photography Print — Norwegian winter landscape and red barn in snow photography, atmospheric Scandinavian wall art and home decor.
- Hamnøy Lofoten Islands Norwegian Arctic Village Photography Print — Norwegian fishing village and Arctic mountain landscape photography, striking Nordic coastal wall art and gifts.
- Stykkishólmskirkja Church Milkyway Iceland Night Sky Photography Print — Icelandic church and Milky Way astrophotography, dramatic Nordic night sky wall art and home decor.
