Eyjafjallajökull (E-ya-fee-y'al-tl-yo-kul-tl). Nevermind, just call it the E15 (letter E, plus the 15 letters following). Nordic languages are daunting if you're unfamiliar with it. Like a good traveler that I want to be, I'll always make the attempt. While Icelanders say it in a few syllables, it takes me about eight and it doesn't sound pretty.
Back to E15. Remember the eruption in 2010 that halted air travel to Europe for almost a week and made worldwide news? For many Americans, this was our first "introduction" to Iceland. It was a miracle that there were no reported deaths. But there are many things in Iceland that can kill you and it's not what you think.
Iceland is not as cold as you might think but they have ferocious winds that can blow you over a cliff. Just when you think you're a safe distance from the shoreline, a rogue wave can come and sweep you out into the Atlantic. And the geothermal pools heated by hot magma from beneath the earth. Sure, there are natural pools that are safe to soak in, but many have scalding hot water, so heeding warning signs is serious business. And of course, let's not forget about the beautiful waterfalls, loose rocks when hiking, and so on. Hypothermia is no joke so be sure to dress appropriately as conditions call for.
Packed with appropriate clothing, gear, common sense and a healthy dose of adventure, the real danger is developing an overwhelming obsession to return.
Vidgelmir is Iceland's largest lava tube discovered so far. Parts of it are cavernous, while other areas require a nimble body to get through. Due to the minerals in the rocks, combined with perpetual moisture, the cave ceiling and sides are very colorful
My guide guide is a geologist and his name is Will. I think he made it up so tourists can remember. During the winter, the moisture forms "stalagmites" of ice and eventually melts in the summer.
Kerid crater is one of the craters you can hike down to the water level, or hike the rim. This is an example of the different minerals in volcanic rocks that gives it various colors. The lake depth can vary from 20 feet to 45 feet depending on season.
This area has 3 craters. I am standing on Grabok crater, and there's a smaller one in front of me and another behind me. Notice the dark areas where the lava once flowed.
Fjadrargljufur (Fee-yath-rar-glyee-oo-fur) Canyon on Iceland's south coast.
Hraunfossar is a lava tube waterfall. Imagine you have a soda can set sideways, then punch a bunch of holes on the side. That's essentially what's happening here.
Seljalandsfoss (Sel-y'all-lans-foss). The iconic waterfall you can hike up to and walk around and behind. For maximum comfort, wear waterproof everything.
Gljufrabui (means canyon dweller) falls. You have to hike through a stream to get here but during the less rainy season, the stream isn't very deep at all. Wear waterproof shoes.
Geysir. This geyser erupts every 8 - 10 minutes. The best part of this experience is not watching the hot water shoot up, but the few seconds BEFORE it happens. The pool of still water will slowly start 'buckling" then a semi dome bubble will appear right before the eruption. See inset (not my photo)
Lava Bread is made by baking the bread in the volcanic soil. There is scalding hot water underneath the soil; you can see boiling mud pots in the area a few yards away from me. In fact, the water from the lake in the back ground is warm. Lava bread is dense (like pumpernickel) and tastes like rye. Icelanders put butter on it.
You can find Basalt columns in many area here. The columns form when lava cools and contracts and causes the ground to crack into these geometrical columns. This is at Reynisfjara beach.
More geological sampling of basalt columns. Reynisfjara beach is notorious for extreme winds and dangerous surf, which over millions of years of it carved out this cave.
Eldhraun lava field is the largest in the world caused by a volcanic eruption in the 1700's. Two important facts to take in here:
1) This catastrophic event was said to have played a direct role in starting the French Revolution. In a time when peasants were struggling to survive, the wealthy were getting richer. The eruption caused such world wide disruption that any necessities the poor were lacking (such as food), this compounded the situation and became a catalyst for commoners to revolt.
2) Moss covering the lava fields (and anywhere else in Iceland takes 70 - 100 years to grow and only minutes to destroy it. So take care to keep off the moss.
I'm sneaking in this photo of an ice cave. While this is not a natural ice cave, it is made from actual ice brought in from the glaciers. We were visiting in the summer time and real natural ice caves are not safe to explore until later in the fall. I'm at the Perlan in Reykjavik and you can experience this 300 foot long ice cave. At 10 degrees Fahrenheit you need to dress warmly!
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