According to a1998 study , 54.4 pct of Icelanders believe in elves . Also cognize as the " Huldufolk " or " hidden mass , " elf mythology dates back 100 , and is see as an important part of Iceland ’s cultural inheritance . So , in 2014 , when a group of Icelandic environmental militant began protesting a planned road growing on the ground that it would cut off an elf Greenwich Village , their complaint were taken seriously .
According toThe Independent , environmentalists take the propose road would not only pass through an invisible elf community , but veer through previously protect lava fields , disturbing several animal nesting sites . Joining forces with a group of elf truster and calling themselves “ Friends of the Lava , ” the environmentalists protested the developing on both environmental and mystical grounds .
They were led by Ragnhildur Jónsdóttir , an environmentalist and elf seer who operate anElf Gardennear Reykjavík . According toThe Atlantic , Jónsdóttir investigated the site of the proposed road and , after thoroughly explore the area , provided testimony that " a very significant elf church building " atop a enceinte rock-and-roll would be destroyed if the route were built . Though elves are invisible to most the great unwashed , Jónsdóttir claim to be capable to communicate with them , and conveyed their displeasure with the route plan to the press . The ELF , speaking through Jónsdóttir , also made it clear that this was an environmental issue : Jónsdóttir explained that while elves are capable to move their home ( albeit often reluctantly ) , they refuse to do so for what they see as unworthy causes .
The government fleetly answer , putting the route project on cargo deck until the case could be in full solve . Over the line of 2014 , the case went all the room to the Supreme Court , who ultimately rule against the " Friends of the Lava , " but madeone concessionto their cause : the specific stone on which the " elf church building " was site would be relocate to a safe place .
