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Interesting Places in South IcelandLandmannalaugarLandmannalaugar is a region near the volcano Hekla in the Southern Highlands of Iceland. The Landmannalaugar area is famous for its incredible natural beauty. The area consists of more geological elements than you can count, but more obvious are the rhyolite mountains and vast lava fields, rising up right by the mountain hut. The many mountains around come in all the world's colours; pink, brown, green, yellow, blue, purple, black, white and more, the most notable mountains being Bláhnjúkur (Blue peak) and Brennisteinsalda (Sulphur dune). Landmannalaugar is an ideal walking area.
JokulsarlonJökulsárlón is the best known and the largest of a number of glacial lakes in Iceland. It is situated at the south end of the glacier Vatnajökull between Skaftafell National Park and Höfn. Appearing first only in 1934-1935, the lake grew from 7.9 km² in 1975 to at least 18 km² today because of heavy melting of the Icelandic glaciers. Approaching a depth of 200 m, Jökulsárlón is now probably the second deepest lake in Iceland.Jökulsárlón is separated from the sea by only a short distance, and the combined action of the glacier, the river that empties from the lake, and the ocean may eventually transform it into an inlet of the sea. It is not far from the Icelandic Ring Road, and buses travelling between Höfn and Reykjavík usually stop there. The lake is filled with icebergs.
HeklaHekla is located in the south of Iceland, with a height of 1,488 m (4,882 ft). Hekla is Iceland's most active volcano; over 20 outbreaks have occurred in and around the volcano since 874. During the Middle Ages, Icelanders called the volcano the "Gateway to Hell."Hekla is part of a volcanic ridge, 40 km (25 mi) long. However, the most active part of this ridge, about 5.5 km (3.4 mi) long, is considered to be the volcano Hekla proper. Hekla looks rather like an overturned boat, with its keel being in fact a series of craters, two of which are generally the most active. Hekla is on time now in 2008, and an eruption is expected in the near futur. Photos from 1980 eruption are here below.
ThingvellirThe valley is one of the most important places in Icelandic history. In the year 930, the Alþingi, one of the oldest parliamentary institutions of the world, was founded here. The Alþingi met yearly, where the Lawspeaker recited the law to all of the gathered people and decided disputes as well. Criminals were also punished at these assemblies; to this day, visitors can see the Drekkingarhylur ('drowning pool') in the river, where female lawbreakers were drowned. Þingvellir became a national park in 1928 due to its historical importance, as well as the special tectonic and volcanic environment. The continental drift can be clearly seen in the cracks or faults which are traversing the region, the biggest one, Almannagjá, being a veritable canyon. This causes also the often measurable earthquakes in the area. Some of the rifts are full of surprisingly clear water. One, Nikulásargjá, is better known as Peningagjá , as it is littered with coins at its bottom. Throw in a coin, make a wish, and watch the coin carefully; legend has it that if you can see your coin hit the bottom it will come true. Þingvellir is situated on the northern shore of Þingvallavatn, the biggest lake of Iceland. The river Öxará traverses the national park and forms a waterfall at the Almannagjá, called Öxarárfoss. Together with the waterfall Gullfoss and the Geysirs of Haukadalur, Þingvellir is part of the most famous sights of Iceland, the Golden Circle. Þingvellir is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
VikVik is a small village situated on the south coast around 200 km from Reykjavik. The natural surroundings in Vík are exceptionally beautiful and the climate is relatively mild. The black sand beach is one of the most beautiful beach in the world. The bird life is diverse in the area and there are good conditions for bird watching. The area is perfect for exploration and there are many interesting walking and hiking paths in Vík and the surrounding areas.MyrdalsjokullMýrdalsjökull Glacier 595 km2 is situated in the south of Iceland. Glacial tongues creep down from it to the lowlands, the most prominent being Sólheimajökull, close to the Ring Road. Many activities are proposed on the glacier the whole year around.Under the south eastern side of the glacier is Katla, an active central volcano(1450 m). It has a reputation as one of the most dangerous volcanoes of Iceland. It is situated to the north of Vík í Mýrdal and to the east of the smaller glacier Eyjafjallajökull. Its peak reaches 1493 m in height and the extension of the glacier Mýrdalsjökull which lies over it reaches 595 km². The crater of the volcano has a diameter of 10 km and the volcano normally erupts every 40–80 years. The last major eruption occurred in 1918, although there was a small eruption in 1955. Since 930, 16 eruptions have been documented. The Laki craters and the Eldgjá are part of the same volcanic system, so it can be regarded as one of the most powerful in the world
Skaftafell National ParkThere are no roads in the park, except to the farm; marked paths lead from the car park by the campsite. Visitors are free to explore the park as they please, but are expected to follow marked paths where there are any. Some examples of hikes are the gully route to Svartifoss waterfall, which takes 2 hours, and to the rock Sjónarsker or to the rim of Skaftafellsjökull glacier.It was founded in September 1967, and enlarged twice afterwards. Today the park measures about 4.807 km2 (2884 mi²), making it Iceland's second largest national park. The landscape is very similar to some of the Alps, but it has been formed in thousands of years by different influences of fire (volcanic eruptions of Öræfajökull) and water (the glaciers Skeiðarájökull and Skaftafellsjökull), the rivers Skeiðará, Morsá und Skaftafellsá. Volcanic eruptions under the ice-cap can give rise to glacier runs which swell the Skeiðará river massively. Skaftafell is renowned in Iceland for its agreeable climate and the sunny days in summer, uncommon in the south of Iceland. There is a natural birch wood, Bæjarstaðarskógur, as well as many species of birds and arctic foxes.
SvartifossSvartifoss (Black Falls) is a waterfall in Skaftafell National Park in Iceland, and is one of the most popular sights in the park. It is surrounded by dark lava columns, which give rise to its name. The hexagonal columns were formed inside a lava flow which cooled extremely slowly, giving rise to crystallization. Similar well-known lava formations are seen at the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, and on the island of Staffa in Scotland. The base of this waterfall is noteworthy for its sharp rocks. New hexagonal column sections break off faster than the falling water wears down the edges. These basalt columns have provided inspiration for Icelandic architects, most visibly in the Hallgrímskirkja church in Reykjavík, and also the National Theatre.
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