Iceland boasts a singular landscape punctuated by hot spas, geysers, mountains, glacial lakes and rivers. Outside of Reykjavik, where two thirds of the island nation's 320,000 citizens live, sits nearly 40,000 square miles of pure nature waiting to be discovered. In the summer, the sun keeps this country lit even at midnight.
Tectonic Rift
Because it sits atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Iceland has many surprises for any type of adventurer. A couple of hours drive from the capital or the airport is the rift where the American tectonic plate meets the European plate, the only place where this lines is visible above the Atlantic. A huge wall stands before you as you imagine the force of the earth and the time taken to form what is beneath our feet. Makes you feel small indeed. Visitors to this spot can even swimming within the crack in clear, still water.
Highlands
Over thousands and thousands of years, Iceland's volcanic activity has created a wilderness that must be seen to be believed. Hiking trails traverse the tops and bottoms of striking valleys. Glaciers, volcanoes and green green hills lie in literally every direction. Thanks to fresh eruptions, this beautiful place is still changing. Up the slopes of the famous volcano Eyjafjallajökull are lava flows, smoldering rocks and intimate views of how the Earth was formed.
Relaxing
It is worth noting that Iceland is not all go go go. The Blue Lagoon is a testament to that for sure. Soaking in these therapeutic hot springs, cold drink in hand under the open sky is nothing if not lovely.
Find below a small number of views from my hikes all over Iceland. I barely touched a small percentage of what the island has to offer but still felt like I'ds seen a lot. This is nature served raw.
