Tag Archives: Iceland

September 16, 2019 · 5:35 am

Transatlantic — Thingvellir; Where North America meets Europe


Thingvellir

There is an area in Iceland known as Þingvellir National Park, which when anglicized comes out spelled Thingvellir. And, yes, we’re still doing the Golden Circle with GeoIceland Tours.

Thingvellir

Thingvellir is a real geological oddity, as this is the heart of a rift valley with significance. It is here that the Mid-Atlantic Ridge protrudes above sea level, creating the island of Iceland. More specifically, this is where the North American tectonic plate collides dramatically with the Eurasian tectonic plate.

Thingvellir

Or, to put it another way, when you walk along the Hakið (Hakid) scenic pathway dividing these plates, and step within the great Almannagjá fault, you are in fact standing on the divide separating Europe from North America.

Hakid — Thingvellir scenic pathway

From here the views of the rift valley are spectacular. Here is Þingvallavatn (Thingvallavatn), a rift valley lake:

Thingvellir

There are also several apparently remote residences in this desolate-looking area:

Thingvellir

We’ll continue exploring Thingvellir Wednesday and this week’s Fun Photo Friday, but for today here is one last image of the pathway within the fault:

Thingvellir

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September 13, 2019 · 5:35 am

Transatlantic — Iceland Golden Circle; Gullfoss (and Strokkur video)


Gullfoss Falls

No Fun Photo Friday today. We have too much to cover. But I do have for you that promised video at the end of today’s article.

Gullfoss Falls

Beyond the Geysir Hot Spring Area on the Golden Circle tour we stopped at a segment of Hvítá (White) River. It is at this point that the Hvítá cuts into the landscape, creating a deep canyon.

The Hvítá (White) River canyon containing Gullfoss Falls

It is this canyon into which the river makes an impressive multi-step drop — 36 feet/11 meters, 69 feet/21 meters, and finally a spectacular plunge of 105 feet/32 meters. This is Gullfoss (Golden Falls):

Gullfoss Falls

On average the amount of water cascading through Gullfoss in summer is 4,900 cubic feet/140 cubic meters per second!

Gullfoss Falls

But the record flood amount for Gullfoss was 71,000 cubic feet/2,000 cubic meters per second.

Gullfoss Falls

Now, as promised, here is a one-minute seventeen-second video not only of Gullfoss, but of a Strokkur Geysir eruption as well:

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September 11, 2019 · 5:35 am

Transatlantic — Iceland Golden Circle; Geysir Hot Springs Area 2


Geothermal hot springs

As we tour the Geysir Hot Spring Area, let’s take a look at an interesting statue. The figure doing all the heavy lifting in this piece represents Sigurður Greipsson, who was Iceland Glíma Champion five years running, from 1922 until 1926. He retired undefeated in 1927. So, what is Glíma? It’s a form of Nordic folk wrestling, in this case a variant known as “trouser grip” wrestling in which the opposing wrestlers must remain standing at all times, and can only move around each other in a clockwise direction. Adding to the degree of difficulty, the wrestlers should avoid looking directly at their opponent, but rather over the opponent’s shoulder as much as possible.

Sigurður Greipsson — 5-time Glíma champion

This next photograph depicts one of the many boiling hot springs at this site:

Bubbling pool

Remember that on Friday I’ll be presenting a video of an actual eruption of Strokkur Geysir, as well as Gullfoss Falls. In the meantime I’ll leave you with this series of four Strokkur images taken at one-second intervals as it subsides from a previous eruption:

Strokkur Geysir

Strokkur Geysir

Strokkur Geysir

Strokkur Geysir

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