Places of Interest
Keilir
Mt Keilir is a hyaloclastite mountain on the Reykjanes Peninsula. It was created by sub-glacial eruptions during the Ice Age. Its shape makes it distinctive and according to geologists, it is probably a crater plug. In spite of its steep slopes, it is not too difficult to climb, and the view from its top on a fine day is to be remembered.
Hengill
Hengill is a cluster of mountains just outside Reykjavik, Iceland's capital and largest city. One of Hengill's most distinguishing features is an extensive, beautiful geothermal area with natural hot springs and colourful steam vents. A number of scenic mountain tracks weave their way through the mountains, where travellers can dip a toe or more in natural hotspots and feel fatigue drain from their bodies. Glymur
The Botnsa river runs from the second-deepest lake in Iceland, Hvalvatn (525 ft.), into the sea at Hvalfjordur. Botnsa river passes through a magnificent canyon, into which spills Iceland's highest waterfall, Glymur, which is around 650 ft. high and popular for wintertime ice climbing. People wonder about the derivation of the place names in this area and one delightful folktale, telling the story of Raudhofdi, explains the origins of some of them. Tindur
Tindur rises imposingly from the Tindfjoll mountains to the southeast of the Tindfjallajokull glacier. There are magnificent views from the mountain. You can see the Thorsmork nature area, two glaciers on the south coast, and Mt. Hekla - Iceland's most frequently erupting and most famous volcano.
Katla
Katla is one of the largest volcanoes in Iceland and a difficult neighbour. The broad summit is buried under Myrdalsjokull glacier's thick, icy blanket. When Katla starts to simmer, the threat of a powerful eruption under the ice develops. An eruption causes a glacial burst, forcing a vast quantity of melt water out from under the ice. It doesn't last long but the volume of water in the resulting catastrophic flood can reach an average flow rate equal to that of the largest river in the world, the Amazon. Laki
As the year 1783 was ushered in, a wave of devastating earthquakes swept across Iceland's south and southeast, laying waste to 90 settlements. In June of that same year, another catastrophe, that's become known as "The Fires of the Skafta River" began with enormous volcanic eruptions along a 15-mile-long fissure called Lakagigar, named after the mountain Laki at its midpoint. The eruptions were the single greatest catastrophe in the recorded history if Iceland. For the next nine months, ash and poisonous gases spewed out of the row of craters on the fissure, and so did the largest lava flow since the last ice age (420 trillion cubic ft. spread over 230 sq. miles)!Blafell
Mountains in the distance take on a bluish hue. Blafell (the blue mountain) guards southern approaches to the Kjolur region of central Iceland. It's an old tuff mountain formed during an eruption beneath a glacier and reaches a height of 3,950 ft. In face, Blafell gives us a good indication of glaciers during the period of its formation. It's the highest peak (apart from glaciers) in southwestern Iceland. Kjolur
Before the days of motorised transport, the road over Kjolur was the most frequently travelled north-south route in Iceland. Kjolur is the name given to the high band of country that forms a major watershed between the Langjokull and Hofsjokull glaciers. Kjolur means, "keel" and indeed the landscape resembles an upturned boat. The area is in fact a broad pass between two large glaciers and, as such, is subject to sudden unpredictable and dramatic weather changes.Sulur
The twin peaks of the Sulur Mountains are a familiar sight from the relatively large northern Icelandic town of Akureyri. The Ytri-Sula peak rises close to the town, while a little further to the south is Sydri-Sula - the higher of the two summits, at 3,980 ft. These mountains were formed mainly from light-colored rhyolite, a result of volcanic activity between eight and nine million years ago. The acidic rocks of the Sulur are flakier than the basalt that's characteristic of the surrounding hills. It's possible that rhyolite on the top of the Sulur has formed extensive scree-slopes that cover older basalt layers. If this is the case, the core of the Sulur built up in a series of eruptions in the same way as most other mountains in the area, but the rhyolite became much more pronounced in recent times.Viti
On March 29th, 1875, a violent eruption in the Dyngjufjoll Mountains finally marked the end of the Askja eruptions. This explosive eruption formed the crater Viti, north of Askja Lake. In a pure explosive eruption, molten rock material (magma) is forced to the earth's surface, shattering into volcanic fragments (tephra) when it comes into contact with groundwater in lava channels. Askja
Askja is an active volcano in the Odadahraun area, north of the Vatnajokull glacier. Askja formed during a period of intense volcanic activity. A magma chamber beneath Askja emptied back into the earth during successive eruptions, which has caused the floor of the crater to sink. Esja
Esja is, in fact, a mountainous mass near Reykjavik covering an area so large that each side of the mountain has it's own particular characteristics. The residents of Reykjavik consider Mt. Esja their own. Interest in outdoor activities on and near Esja has been increasing markedly, including ice climbing up frozen waterfalls! Eldgja
Eldgjá is a volcanic canyon in Iceland. Eldgjá and the nearby Laki craters are part of the same volcanic system as Katla in the south of the country. Eldgjá means "fire canyon" in Icelandic. Situated between Landmannalaugar and Kirkjubæjarklaustur, the canyon is at its greatest 270m deep and 600m wide. It was discovered by Þorvaldur Þoroddsen in 1803.
Basar
Vik i Myrdal
Langjokull
Laugavegur
The Laugavegur is a famous trekking route in South-West Iceland from the hot springs area of Landmannalaugar to the glacial valley of Þórsmörk. It is noted for the wide variety of landscapes that are experienced in just 55km. The route is typically completed over 2-4 days with potential stops at the mountain huts at Hraftinnusker, Álftavatn and Emstrur. An ultramarathon is held on the route each July. It is possible to combine the trek with the Fimmvörðuháls route which goes over the pass from Þórsmörk to Skógar.
Thorsmork
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