Iceland Tour, June 2023
with Smithsonian Journeys

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Reykjavik, Capital City of Iceland

Hallgrimskirkja (Church of Hallgrimur) is a parish church in Reykjavik, Iceland. At 244 ft tall, it is the largest church in Iceland and among the tallest structures in the country. The church is named after the Icelandic poet and cleric Hallgrimur Pétursson, author of the Passion Hymns. The church has a carillion of bells at the top, and an observer can take a lift up to the viewing deck and view Reykjavik and the surrounding mountains.
The statue of explorer Leif Erikson (c.970 - c.1020) by Alexander Stirling Calder in front of the church was a gift from the United States in honor of the 1930 Althing Millennial Festival, commemorating the 1000th anniversary of the convening of Iceland's parliament at Þingvellir in 930 AD.(Wikipedia)

Leif Erikson Statue Outside of Hallgrimskirkja Hallgrimskirkja Pipe Organ Dedication of Leif Erikson Statue from the United States
Hallgrimskirkja (Church of Hallgrímur), Reykjavik Reykjavik from Hallgrimskirkja Tower Reykjavik from Hallgrimskirkja Tower Views of Reykjavik from Observation Deck of the Perlan (Wonders of Iceland) Views of Reykjavik from Observation Deck of the Perlan (Wonders of Iceland)

Selfoss and Vik

Seljalandsfoss Waterfall Seljalandsfoss Waterfall Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

Seljalandsfoss is a waterfall located in the South Region in Iceland. The waterfall drops 60 m and is part of the Seljalands River that has its origin in the volcano glacier Eyjafjallajökull. [Wikipedia]

Scenery View from Seljalandsfoss Waterfall Hekla Volcano from Lava Centre

Skógafoss is a waterfall on the Skógá River in the south of Iceland at the cliff marking the former coastline. The Skógafoss is one of the biggest waterfalls in the country, with a width of 25 metres (82 feet) and a drop of 60 m (200 ft). [Wikipedia]

Skogafoss Waterfall Skogafoss Waterfall Skogafoss Waterfall

Sólheimajökull Glacier and Icebergs

Sólheimajökull is an outlet glacier of the larger Mýrdalsjökull ice cap which lies atop the Katla caldera. It sits near the town of Vík í Mýrdal, about 180 km southeast of Reykjavik. The glacier is melting rapidly, around 60 metres (200 ft) per year owing to warmer annual temperatures. [Wikipedia]

Sólheimajökull Glacier Sólheimajökull Glacier

Reynisfjara black sand beach is located beside the small fishing village of Vík í Mýrdal along the South Coast of Iceland. It is known for its dramatic natural landscapes: hexagonal basalt columns, the Halsanefshellir Sea Cave, and large rock formations that rise out of the sea. [Tripadvisor]

Close-up of Basalt Columns at Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach Basalt Columns at Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach Off-shore Sea Stacks at Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach Nesting Birds at Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

Akureyri

Akureyri is Iceland's fifth most populous municipality located in the central north of the country at the head of Eyjafjörður, one of the longest fjords in Iceland. [Wikipedia]

Akureyrarkirkja (Lutheran Church in Akureyri)
Scenic Overlook of Akureyri (panorama) Scenic Overlook of Akureyri

At the Goðafoss (waterfall of the gods), the water of the river Skjálfandafljót falls from a height of 12 meters over a width of 30 meters.

Edge of Godafoss Waterfall Godafoss Waterfall Outflow from Godafoss Waterfall Bridge Near Godafoss Waterfall

The Akureyri Botanical Garden is located on the west side of the inland end of the fjord Eyjafjörður, in the southern part of the city of Akureyri, 50 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle. It is one of the northernmost botanical gardens in the world.

Akureyri botanical garden - Himalyan Blue Poppies Akureyri botanical garden - fountain Akureyri botanical garden - ornamental cabbage Akureyri botanical garden Akureyri botanical garden - ornamental cabbage

Lake Myvatn, Dimmuborgir, Námaskarð

  Lake Myvatn Skútustaðagígar Craters - Lake Myvatn Skútustaðagígar Craters - Lake Myvatn
Dimmuborgir Lava Formations Dimmuborgir Lava Formations Námaskarð Boiling Sulfuric Mud Springs and Steam Vents NamasNámaskarð Boiling Sulfuric Mud Springs and Steam Vents Námaskarð Boiling Sulfuric Mud Springs and Steam Vents

Húsavík and Nearby Stops

>Puffin Island Tour Boat

Húsavík is a town on the northeast coast of Iceland on the shores of Skjálfandi (Shaky) Bay. Húsavík has become a centre of whale watching in Iceland and is the departure point for cruises to Puffin Island.

Puffin Island cruise - Jim and Becky Harbor in Husavik Town of Husavik Puffin Island
Puffin Island Puffin in Flight Puffins Puffins Island

Hljóðaklettar - Echo Rocks

Hljóðaklettar is a distinctive cluster of columnar rock formations, located by Jokulsargljufur in Vatnajokull National Park. The columns lie at all angles and derive their name from the strange echoes created by the numerous caves and uncommon rock formations. [Guide to Iceland]

Hljóðaklettar - Echo Rocks
Hljóðaklettar - Echo Rocks Hljóðaklettar - Echo Rocks Hljóðaklettar - Echo Rocks
  Detifoss Waterfall Detifoss Waterfall Detifoss Waterfall

Glaumbær Farm,Skagafjörður

The turf houses at Glaumbær date from the 18th to the 19th century. This style was used in Iceland up until 1910-30.

Glaumbær Turf Houses and GlGlaumbær Church Glaumbær Turf Houses and GGlaumbær Church Glaumbær Turf Houses #15,14,13,12,1,2,4
Interior, Glaumbær Turf House Interior, Glaumbær Turf House Interior, Glaumbær Turf House Glaumbær Turf House #2 - Guest Room

Grabrok Crater

Grabrok Crater Trail Looking Down Grabrok Crater Trail Grabrok Crater Hike
Grabrok Crater Panorama

Borgarfjörður

Hraunfossar Falls

Hraunfossar is a series of waterfalls formed by rivulets streaming over a distance of about
900 metres out of the Hallmundarhraun, a lava field from an eruption of one of the
volcanoes lying under the glacier Langjükull. The waterfall flows into the Hvítá River. [Wikipedia]

Hraunfossar Falls Hraunfossar Falls Hraunfossar Falls Panorama
  Hvítá River Bridge over Hvítá River Hvítá River Scenery

Snæfellsnes Peninsula

The translates to "snow-mountain-peninsula", a refence to the Snæfellsjökull volcano
that rises at the tip of the peninsula. The peninsula's sights include the Búðir black church,
the Arnarstapi basalt columns, Ytri-Tunga beach with its seal colony, and the Black Lava Pearl Beach.

Ytri-Tunga Beach Ytri Tunga Beach with Snæfellsnes Volcano Ytri-Tunga Beach Whale Bones on Ytri-Tunga Beach Bárður Snæfellsás Statue at Arnarstapi
Ytri Tunga Beach Búðakirkja (Black Church of Búðir) Búðir Beach Búðir Beach
Coastal Hike in Arnarstapi - Mt Stapafell Arnarstapi Basalt Columns Arnarstapi Basalt Columns Arnarstapi Basalt Columns Lighthouse Malarrif at Snæfellsnes peninsula
Coastal Hike in Arnarstapi Coastal Hike in Arnarstapi - Hellnar Arch Sea Birds along Arnarstapi Coast
Djúpalónssandur & Dritvík - the Black Lava Pearl Beach Djúpalónssandur & Dritvík - the Black Lava Pearl Beach Djúpalónssandur & Dritvík - the Black Lava Pearl Beach
Djúpalónssandur & Dritvík - the Black Lava Pearl Beach Djúpalónssandur & Dritvík - the Black Lava Pearl Beach Djúpalónssandur & Dritvík - the Black Lava Pearl Beach Djúpalónssandur & Dritvík - the Black Lava Pearl Beach

Þingvellir National Park

Rift in Thingvellir National Park

Þingvellir (Thingvellir) was the site of the annual parliament of Iceland from the year 930 until 1798. The park lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. [Wikipedia]

Drowning Pool - Thingvellir National Park
Rift in Thingvellir National Park - North American Tectonic Plate (on left) Scenery Thingvellir National Park Tectonic Plate View Thingvellir National Park
Strokkur Geyser - Geysir Strokkur Geyser - Geysir

Gullfoss and Geysir

Gullfoss Waterfall Gullfoss Waterfall Gullfoss Waterfall

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