Fire And Ice
- Virtual Traveller 86
- May 27, 2020
- 2 min read
Day Four: Country No.26
ICELAND Arrival Time: 1:10pm
Iceland is a country of extreme geological contrasts. Widely known as “the land of fire and ice” Iceland is home to some of the largest glaciers in Europe, and some of the world’s most active volcanoes. Iceland is also the land of light and darkness. Long summer days with near 24-hours of sunshine are offset by short winter days with only a few hours of daylight.” (inspiredbyiceland.com).
Out of the 26 countries in this challenge, Iceland is the only one I have actually visited for real. Mind you it was for a grand total of 4 hours - spent in Reykjavik airport while awaiting a connecting flight to America. But it was daylight as we arrived so I had a good birds eye view (be it briefly!). On this ‘virtual’ trip I was able to take a number of aerial tours and in the process covered a range of locations. Below are some of them.
1. Aerial view of Reykjavik
2. Veidhivotn: area of 50+ small crater lakes, north-east of Landmannalaugar. Formed following an eruption in about 1477 (Guide to Iceland)
3. Lighthouse on Dyrholaey Peninsula. Dyrhólaey is the southernmost point in mainland Iceland. (Wikipedia)
4. Breiðamerkurjökull: an outlet glacier of the larger glacier of Vatnajökull in the southern part of Vatnajökull National Park, Southeastern Iceland. Emerging as a tongue of the Vatnajökull (Europe’s largest glacier) it ends in a small lagoon:
5. & 7. Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon: The water is dotted with icebergs from the surrounding Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier. “Jökulsárlón is the lowest point in Iceland, due to the fact that heavy ice presses the soil under the glacier down, which is currently at 200 meters below the sea level.” (airpano.com 2014). The lagoon provides an outstanding view of the Ice Cap.
6. Dyrholaey Peninsula: a small promontory located on the south coast of Iceland. Reminds me of Durdle Door, near Lulworth Cove.
1. Mount Maelifell: cone volcano located in the south of Iceland, formed by volcanic eruptions underneath the Myrdalsjökull glacier.
2. & 3. Landmannalaugar: in Fjallabak Nature Reserve, Highlands of Iceland. It is at the edge of Laugahraun lava field. 4. Brennisteinsalda & Bláhnjúkur volcanoes: in Laugahraun lava field.
Aurora Borealis
“The Aurora Borealis or northern lights, begin high in the Earth’s atmosphere—at altitudes of 60 to more than 250 miles—when charged particles from the sun become trapped in the Earth's magnetic field. The result is a colorful, dancing light show.” (National Geographic)
Top row: Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon
Bottom left: Gardur Old Lighthouse, Reykjanes Peninsula. About an hour drive from the capital.
Bottom right: over Godafoss waterfall
I would love one day to see the northern lights for real.
Leaving Iceland: 1:54pm
Sources
https://www.airpano.com/360photo/iceland-jokulsarlon-ice-lagoon/ https://www.airpano.com/360photo/iceland-langisjor-veidivotn/
https://www.airpano.com/360photo/iceland-best-landscapes/ https://www.airpano.com/360photo/iceland-reykjavik/
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/7-aurora-destinations/ https://hiticeland.com/iceland/reykjanes https://guidetoiceland.is/travel-iceland/drive/veidivotn Wikipedia
Google Earth
I am doing this challenge to raise funds for The Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK) and for the NHS Charities. You can read my reasons for choosing these in an earlier post. Any donation is gratefully received and can be made by clicking on the link below. Thank You.
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