Reykjavík Grapevine - 09.09.2016, Síða 53

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Distance by Car
from Reykjavík
190 km
Trip provided by
www.extremeiceland.is
The other side
On the other side of the glacier
lies Mýrdalsandur, the most likely
flood plain. It’s almost completely
desolate—a grey wasteland criss-
crossed by the river Múlakvísl. We
hike along the riverbank, notic-
ing a strong smell of sulphur.
Andrés seems surprised, and
cites reports of another sulphu-
rous-smel l i ng r iver, Blá f ja l-
lakvísl, to the north of the gla-
cier. “Now this one is smelling
of sulphur too…” he says, tailing
off. “Something’s going on down
there, that’s for sure.”
We wind our way inland from
the chilly plains, and finish the
trip eating freshly picked berries
and drinking from the pool of a
tucked-away waterfall, surround-
ed by greenery. It ’s a reminder
that even after millennia of regu-
lar eruptions, life finds a way to
flourish. In fact, ultimately, erup-
tions can throw out minerals that
help plant life to thrive in the fol-
lowing years.
"It could be days, years, or de-
cades,” finishes Andrés, as we be-
gin the drive back to Reykjavík.
“A lot of people will rush to the
volcano if it erupts. But a lot of
people will run the other way, too.
Nobody remembers a Katla erup-
tion. It could be total destruction.
I flew back from a holiday in Spain
when Eyjafjallajökull erupted—
the eruptions of my lifetime have
all been easily reachable. But if
Katla goes off… I’ll be excited, but
I think I’ll watch it on TV.”
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53The Reykjavík GrapevineIssue 14 — 2016
How to get there
Extreme Iceland picks you up.
Don’t try it in your hire car.