Tag Archives: video

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

Comments Off on Transatlantic — Thingvellir; Where North America meets Europe

Filed under Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, vacation

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

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:

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

Filed under Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, vacation, Video

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , ,

August 17, 2016 · 5:35 am

One Last Glimpse of Alaska and Her Glaciers


Today I present my longest (10:45) and most ambitious video to date.  In order you’ll see:

  • 0:20 Mark — Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay, includes:
    • An impressive ice calving event at the 1:50 mark and another at 2:02
  • 2:15 Mark — Images of the Norwegian Sun transiting Glacier Bay with additional glaciers
  • 3:42 Mark — Norwegian Sun’s sunset transit past the majestic mountains of Wrangell – St. Elias National Park with stunning images of snow-capped mountains bathed in the reddish glow of a setting sun
  • 4:22 Mark — Hubbard Glacier, includes:
    • A column of ice probably close to 200 feet/60 meters tall breaking off from the glacier and crashing into Disenchantment Bay at 6:18
  • 8:20 Mark — Portage Glacier

Beginning next week I’ll return to our Chile-to-Los Angeles cruise.  You’ll recall we got sidetracked with Alaska following my presentation of the Costa Rican jungle.  We’ll take up with our next stop on that voyage — Nicaragua.

As for this week’s remaining blog post, it’s a Fun Firearm Friday with a look at another historic firearm.

Comments Off on One Last Glimpse of Alaska and Her Glaciers

Filed under R. Doug Wicker, travel, vacation, Video

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,