Iceland, 7: Krafla, Viti, And Dimmuborgir

Next day, despite rain and clouds, we wanted to see the lake-filled crater Viti and so drove through the large geothermal complex in Krafla Valley. From there it was a short drive along Lake Myvatn to see the weird rock formations at Dimmuborgir.

Above the Krafla Valley geothermal complex

Driving through plant

Viti crater...as much as my little lens could capture

Pano attempt

Borrowed from some of the excellent signage

On the road to the geothermal complex, some wit has placed an
outdoor hot shower; very hot, no doubt

Horseplay along Lake Myvatn

Dimmuborgir is an area of unusual volcanic rock formations, 
formed beneath the sea/lake that once covered the area...lava
spouting up into the waters...

Some see castles, cathedrals, even elves or similar magical people

Excellent signage, however

The elves even give musical performance from time to time

Evidently they were on lunch break when we were
there; interesting historical side note...we used to
have a sheepskin rug like this when we lived in
Dallas...our dog, Fafner, particularly liked it since
it looked like his mother...

We proceeded on...more of the lake

Iceland, 6: Dettifoss And Selfoss

By now you have come to learn, as we did, that "foss" is the Icelandic word for "waterfall." Dettifoss is Iceland's second largest waterfall, and both it and its nearby neighbor, Selfoss, emanate from the Vatnajokull icefield, perhaps a hundred miles away, and end up in the Sea of Greenland, to the north. As with Gulfoss, on the Golden Circle, Dettifoss is a sort of diagonal affair, dropping into the deep trench the river has dug out of the basalt. Selfoss is much smaller that Dettifoss, but it is a "traditional" horseshoe waterfall and can be seen from all sorts of vantage points down the river. But for the waterfalls, this is a pretty desolate part of the world. 

Approaching Dettifoss

Faint double rainbow

Looking at the desolation all around, you wonder where the water
could come from; then you see this monster...

Fuller views of Dettifoss

Walking up-river toward Selfoss

Selfoss, Vicki's favorite

Us at Selfoss

Guided by the neverending bishops' cairns, we proceeded on

To our next stop, the beginning of the huge thermal area just
east of Reykjahlid

We overnighted at a campground in Reykjahlid

Iceland, 6: Heading Back West

From Djupivogur we did the Stovar fiord and then the Faskruds fiord, following Route #1 up through a long tunnel and pass, and eventually to the town of Egilsstadir. From there, the road turned west across some of the most desolate country we have seen, the Holsfajoll, so desolate--90% without vegetation, not even bluebonnets--we took pix only of the signage. From there we headed on to the next great waterfall, the Dettilfoss, another thermal area, and then spent the night at a campground in Reykjahlid. We were at about the midpoint of our circumnavigation of Iceland.

Of course it started out with a waterfall, another impressive one

Skerries, we'd call them in Scandinavia

Standing their ground

Aqua-farming in the Faskruds fiord (I think); hopefully mussels
or salmon or something else I like

Pitstop at the Skalinn Diner, in Egilsstadir

The sun never sets on American kitsch

And more waterfalls

A three-fer

Sooner or later even the waterfalls run out

It gets more and more desolate

So desolate you can't even walk barefoot on the bluebonnets

You are in the Holsfajoll

[click to enlarge] But don't despair: the bishops' cairns will lead
the way

Thus; and besides, there's another waterfall just over the hill...

Iceland, 5: On Diamond Beach

The Jokulsarlon lagoon has an outlet, and beyond it is a long black beach, Diamond Beach, on which some of the icebergs escaping the lagoon wash up. The connection with diamonds is obscure, unless some of the icebergs become very small.

Driftwood; travelled many miles, no doubt

Diamond Beach; and North Atlantic Ocean

No diamonds

A few fugitive icebergs

Vicki in east Iceland beach attire

Now back on the lagoon

Dang! I was looking forward to a cold plunge!

Us, there

In Hofn now, trying to get a shot of all three of the glaciers
emptying into its bay

Hofn municipal rock garden

Serious fishing village

H for Hofn

Reminded me of Hokitika; sort of

We were there because Route 1 passes through it

And I wanted to try the famous langoustine roll...interesting; sort of

We drove on to Djupivigur and stayed at a popular campground
there