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Lyngbakr

Last reviewed Oct 25, 2026 Next review Nov 9, 2026

Painted illustration: heather-covered whale-island in a Norse sea — AI rendition based on witness descriptions, not an actual photo.

The Aspidochelone, from a 1400-1425 bestiary in the Danish Royal Library — The Aspidochelone, from a 1400-1425 bestiary in the Danish Royal Library · Unknown author · Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons) · Image source

A whale-like monster of Örvar-Odds saga that posed as a heather-covered island.

Folklore Verdict: We treat Lyngbakr as folklore: the record is stories and local reports, with no specimen or verified photo.

Region: Oceans · Greenland Sea
First reports: Örvar-Odds saga

Key sightings

Said to sink with any crew that landed on it.

Best evidence

Stories and tradition only; no physical evidence.

Sources

Wikipedia: Lyngbakr ↗