Iceland review - 2014, Síða 77

after an hour’s drive east you will reach Ásbyrgi, a spectacular
horse-shoe shaped canyon, which is part of the Vatnajökull Na-
tional Park. The nearby waterfall Dettifoss, the most powerful in
Europe, is also part of the park, which covers 13 percent of Ice-
land, 14,200 square kilometers, 5,500 square miles. Vatnajökull
National Park has everything: volcanoes Askja, Öræfajökull and
Laki; Vatnajökull, the world’s largest glacier outside the Polar Re-
gions; lake Langisjór; untamed glacial rivers and space: lots of
it. Here, you can truly see and feel the best Iceland has to offer.
From Dettifoss, the route lies south and east to the East Fjords,
with their small fishing communities, such as picturesque Seyðis-
fjörður and Eskifjörður and incomparable landscapes in Borgar-
fjörður Eystri and Berufjörður fjord.
On we go to Höfn, the lobster capital of Iceland and gateway
to Vatnajökull glacier and National Park. A world like no other
with Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, Skaftafell, and Svartifoss water-
fall, the best place to start the journey to Iceland’s rugged high-
lands. Hvannadalshnjúkur, the country’s highest peak, is a part of
Vatnajökull glacier.
An hour’s drive west of Skaftafell is Kirkjubæjarklaustur, where
green moss covers Eldhraun lava field, the result of the largest
lava flow in history. Take a break, lie down in the soft moss and
look up; you might see a bird or ten as you’re embraced by na-
ture.
Next up is Vík, with its black beaches, gigantic waves, hori-
zontal rain, a rainbow and then the sun; all in one hour. Shortly
after Vík, after the waterfall Skógarfoss, you have Eyjafjallajökull
glacier and volcano on the right side, and the volcanic islands of
Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands) on the left. You should not
leave Iceland without visiting Heimaey, the only inhabited island.
Take the ferry from Landeyjahöfn, and start the visit by climbing
the volcano Eldfell, which last erupted in 1973 covering a large
part of the surrounding residential area. After enjoying the fish
of the day, spend the rest of your visit watching the fishing boats
sail in and out of Iceland’s liveliest harbor.
On the mainland again and closing in on Reykjavík, take a
detour. No place could be better to end a trip around Iceland
than the Golden Circle route, with the world renowned waterfall
Gullfoss, the Strokkur geyser and Þingvellir National Park, the
nation’s holy shrine.
langanes peninsula, northeast iceland.reynisfjara beach, near vík, South iceland. the hidden lambafitjarhraun lava field, South iceland. jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, Southeast iceland. vigur island, the Westfjords.
the geothermal pool in Hveragerði, South iceland. Selfoss waterfall, northeast iceland. the scenic Þvottárskriður, East iceland. Hólmavík, Strandir, Westfjords. króksbjarg cliff, northwest iceland.
ICELAND REVIEW 75