A solitary white house rests on the lush green hillside of a deserted, small island off the coast of Iceland, surrounded by the vast ocean. This image evokes great curiosity and, at the same time, gives the house the nickname “the loneliest house in the world.”
The Vestmannaeyjar archipelago comprises a cluster of small islands off the southern coast of Iceland. The island of Elliðaey (or Ellirey), located in the northeast of this cluster, is where the house stands alone in the midst of the endless greenery.
No one has lived here since 1930, which adds to the mystery of the house.
A solitary white house rests on the lush green hillside of a deserted, small island off the coast of Iceland. Photo: Oddity Central.
The island has been uninhabited since 1930. Photo: Reddit.
For many years, rumors and theories about the lonely house on Elliðaey Island have circulated online. For example, some speculate that a reclusive businessman built it as a doomsday shelter, or that it belongs to a cult.
There are even rumors that Icelandic singer Bjork owns a resort on the island and is negotiating with the government to purchase it. According to news.com.au, Bjork was in talks with the Icelandic government about an island in the early 2000s but quickly withdrew due to criticism from the local media.
Interestingly, the island that caught Bjork’s attention is also called Elliðaey.
Rumors about the loneliest house in the world have been circulating widely on the internet. Photo: Instagram.
Close-up of the house. Photo: Irish Mirror.
The island was actually once home to 5 Icelandic families from three centuries ago. According to The Vintage News, they lived by fishing, farming livestock, and hunting the now-extinct Great Auk – a characteristic animal on the island.
In the 1930s, the island was completely abandoned when all the inhabitants returned to the mainland in search of a better life. However, some residents returned to the island regularly for hunting. According to Oddity Central, this could be the precursor to a hunting association on the island.
20 years later, the Elliðaey Hunting Association decided to build a house on the island as a place for its members to gather, hunt for the elusive puffin bird, and socialize. Due to its remote location, the house has no electricity or running water. However, it does have a sauna, supplied by a rainwater collection system, and is surrounded by a fence even though no one lives there.
Elliðaey Island is considered a national nature reserve as it is the primary nesting site for puffin birds and other seabirds. If someone wants to come and enjoy the natural beauty of the place, tour companies operating in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago provide day trips.
