Iceland is very much a land of fire and ice, courtesy of its beginnings. Some 20 million years ago a volcano on the floor of the far North Atlantic Ocean burped up lava that is now Iceland. It’s still a volcanically active island, and proof of this and its history lies in geysers, hot pools, steaming lava fields and unusual lava formations.
While heat provided Iceland’s foundation, cold is what shaped the island. Glaciers covered Iceland during the Ice Age, and moving ice cut mountain ridges and fjords into the northern, eastern and western coastlines. Glaciers and icecaps still exist today.
Iceland Tours Can Include Geysers and Hot Springs
Iceland travel thus includes attractions that can’t help but be centred around hot and cold. The Blue Lagoon is a resort in the midst of a lava field on the barren Reykjanes peninsula. The star of the resort is the geothermally heated mineral-rich pool, which reportedly helps ease skin conditions such as eczema.
Two geysers, Geysir and Strokkur, lie within relatively easy reach of Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital. Geysir has given its name to such waterspouts worldwide, but its smaller neighbour, Strokkur, draws the crowds. Hveravellir, in the heart of the island, pulses with hot springs, hissing steam, reddish rocks and brilliant blue pools. Lake Myvatn has weird volcanic landforms on display, while the coast around Vik is covered with black volcanic sand and jagged rocks.
Iceland Glaciers and Ice Caps
Iceland holidays can also include visits to Skaftafell National Park, home of Europe’s largest icecap, Vatnajokull, and its in Jokulsarlon where Vatnajokull glaciers meet the sea in an icy lagoon. Over in Porsmork, rivers, mountains and a trio of glaciers seal off a wilderness area, and wild it is. There are a couple of tourist huts in the area that contain essential supplies that are to be used only in an emergency.
Travel to Iceland also reveals dramatic landscapes in the West Fjords, in Iceland’s sub-arctic northwest, where cliffs surround remote fjords. In the East Fjords Reyoarfjorour to Djupivogur, tiny coastal villages are set against a mountainous backdrop. Jokulsa Canyon and the thundering Dettifoss waterfall mark Jokulsargljufur National Park: Dettifoss waterfall and Jokulsa Canyon in the far northeast.
Outdoor Adventures in Iceland
An Iceland vacation will appeal to nature lovers not only because of its varying landscape, but because of the number of outdoor activities beckoning visitors: swimming, hiking, skiing, ice climbing, skidooing, snowboarding, whale watching, horse riding, bird watching and when it’s possible, they can marvel at the northern lights at night.
There is also plenty to see and do in Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital city. The old city is charming and the nightlife is contemporary and “happening.” Festivals, museums, galleries, historic sites, landmark buildings and shopping, from conservative to ultra-trendy stores, will help keep visitors busy. Reykjavík hotels form accommodation options, along with guesthouses.
Iceland is, relatively speaking, a geologically new country offering a contrasting landscape in its geysers, hot springs and lava formations, and its icecaps and glaciers. Its climate and proximity to the sea means visitors can partake in a variety of winter sports as well as go bird watching and whale watching. The capital city of Reykjavik serves up modern conveniences for visitors who want to experience a more urban atmosphere.
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