Elephant Rock is a natural rock formation on the island of Heimaey, in the Westman Islands archipelago. It is made of basalt rock formed in a volcanic eruption of Eldfell.
The Elephant Rock fascinates visitors because it resembles the head of a giant elephant which has submerged half its trunk underwater, as if attempting to quench its thirst with the Atlantic Ocean.
Many have also pointed out the rock's resemblance to H.P. Lovecraft's cosmic daemon Cthulhu, a monstrous sea creature with the face of an octopus. The likeness is complete with a cleft in the rock where the Lovecraftian creature's eyes would be, and the resulting shadow bestows an eerie and lifelike quality upon its face.
Fundamental to the rock's realistic appearance is the fact that it's entirely made from basalt; this makes the "skin" of the creature appear wrinkled.
The Elephant Rock is believed to have been formed during one of Mt. Eldfell's many eruptions. The most recent of these was Eldfell's 1973 eruption, which resulted in the evacuation of Heimaey's entire population, although the Rock itself is much older.