Lifting stones are heavy natural stones which people are challenged to lift, proving their strength. They are common throughout northern Europe, particularly Scotland, Wales, Iceland (where they are referred to as steintökin), Scandinavia and North West England centred around Cumbria. Recently, lifting stones have been incorporated into the World's Strongest Man competitions, using various cast, found, or established challenge stones such as the Húsafell Stone. They also do a stylized version of an event derived from an ancient contest, in which men would see who could load the heaviest stone onto a stone wall, derived from building such a wall, where they are known as Atlas stones. Iceland In Iceland, lifting stones were traditionally used to qualify men for work on fishing boats. To qualify, a man would have to lift at least the hálfdrættingur stone (described below under Dritvik Stones) to hip-height onto a ledge. Lifting heavier stones would entitle the man to a greater share of the catch. The ultimate objective is to reach the 'fullsterkur' status proving you are 'fully strong' by lifting the heaviest stones. Some famous Icelandic lifting stones are described below. Icelandic lifting stones Húsafell Stone The most famous of Iceland's legendary lifting stones is the Húsafell Stone, named after the west country farming estate on which it resides, about 132 km north east from Reykjavík. The triangular shaped stone which weighs 186 kg (410 lb) is said to have been crafted from a large rock over a couple of centuries ago, when a local pastor named Snorri Björnsson adopted it as the door to his Sheep and Goat pen. Nicknamed the 'Kviahellan' (pen slab) by Snorri, the stone has been since used by Strongmen as a test of strength by either simply lifting the stone to the knee and waist, or by lifting it all the way up to the chest and carrying the stone around the perimeter of the pen for 'fullsterkur' status. Dritvik Stones At the tip of the west coast, in Djúpalónssandur beach at the foot of Snæfellsjökull lies 4 stones which are called Dritvik Stones. Historically, the sailors and fishermen who rowed out from this port would lift the stones to prove their worth to a ship's crew and earn themselves better pay remuneration. The 4 stones are classified as: Amlóði ("useless") at 23 kg (51 pounds) Hálfdrættingur ("weakling") at 54 kg (119 pounds) Hálfsterkur ("half strength") at 100