Surprisingly green given its name, the land of fire and ice is a sparsely populated but developed country situated on top of a geological hotspot. The result? Over 30 different active volcanoes, numerous hot springs, and geysers – all coexisting alongside fields of glaciers – the most famous of which, Vatnajökull, holds the record as Europe’s largest glacier. While large tracks along the coastal fridges are green; interestingly, a large portion of central and northern Iceland is also very barren, with a moon-like appearance. Large valleys cut out by valleys are filled with uninhabitable sand fields and soft rock.
Destinations to see in Iceland include Reykjavik, the country’s capital, within which Old Reykjavik is a well preserved strip from the 18th century, as well as the National Museum and the National Gallery which showcase a number of archeological treasures from the island. Heading out, see Gullfoss. The “Golden Falls” is a 105 feet double cascade waterfall considered Europe’s most powerful. One will also find Geysir, a geyser capable of jetting steaming water up over 200 feet high. Nearby, Strokkur (“the churn”) spouts a still impressive and more frequent 60-100 foot jets at a far more frequent every 5 minutes. Get really immersed on site by going to Lake Myvatn, filled with bubbling mud flats and volcanic craters, or head over to Thingvellir to see the Mid-Atlantic Ridge itself, responsible for all this activity. Finally, consider a stop at Blue Lagoon, an unbelievably vivid mineral rich blue body of water naturally heated to 40oC. For those interested in out-of-this world geological formations, and a change in pace, Iceland should be a top place to consider.
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