Gazing up at the unusual opening in the cliffs, one might wonder how Kælderhalsen earned its peculiar name. Kælderhalsen translates to “cellar staircase” in Danish. Its resemblance to a steep, outdoor cellar entry is striking. This natural bridge, carved into the granite cliffs north of Hammerhavn, is a truly unique sight. Kælderhalsen is part of the Kongestolen (King’s Chair) area. This area is known for dramatic cliff faces, impressive rock stacks, and numerous caves.
Kælderhalsen’s formation is a story etched in time and shaped by powerful forces. The cliffs themselves are granite, sculpted by the relentless erosion of the sea. The caves within the granite, including those near Kælderhalsen like Store Grotte (Big Cave) and Lille Grotte (Small Cave), are also products of erosion. They typically form where the rock is weakest, along cracks or dykes. But Kælderhalsen stands out. It’s situated roughly 30 meters above the current sea level. So how could the sea have carved a feature so high above its reach?
The answer lies in the fluctuating sea levels of the Ice Ages. As glaciers grew and melted, sea levels rose and fell dramatically. The Scandinavian landmass, under the immense weight of the ice, was pressed down into the Earth’s mantle. As the ice melted, the land slowly rebounded. But at Kælderhalsen, a different process likely played a more significant role. At the end of the last Ice Age, melting glaciers caused the Baltic Sea to swell. The last remnants of the ice sheets blocked the outflow to the North Sea. This resulted in a Baltic Sea level approximately 20 meters higher than what we see today. The higher sea level gnawed at the cliffs, creating caves and arches at this elevated height, including Kælderhalsen. This unique “cellar staircase” is a testament to the power of ice, water, and time, a geological marvel that stands as a silent witness to dramatic changes in Earth’s history. The cliffs bear the marks of these changing sea levels. Some caves are at the 20-meter mark, others at current sea level, and still others below, formed when the sea was even deeper than today.