Iceland
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Stuðlagil Canyon: Basalt Columns in Iceland’s Northeastern Region
In Iceland’s remote northeastern region is Stuðlagil Canyon, one of the many examples of basalt columns in Iceland. Basalt columns form when lava cools and cracks, forming pentagonal or hexagon shapes. This cracking continues downward, forming the columns that give basalt columns their name. If they are exposed to air, they are usually hexagonal. If…
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Hótel Norðurljós: Staying in Mainland Iceland’s Northernmost Settlement
About Hótel Norðurljós Hótel Norðurljós is a roughly 40-year old hotel with 15 ensuite rooms, restaurant for around 80 guests and a bar. The hotel was converted from an accommodation for up to 200 “herring-girls”, women who came to work on the herring fishing fleet that was important for this area. It was converted in…
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Hótel Tjarnir: Nestled Between Two Mountains (Iceland)
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Arctic Henge: Iceland’s modern neolithic Monument
Imagine you are driving in the remote northern region of Iceland. You are near the northernmost point of the island when you come across what looks like a stone circle. Is this the Icelandic answer to Stonehenge? If you think so, you are not alone. This is the Arctic Henge. The Arctic Henge is located…
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Jökulsárgljúfur: Iceland’s answer to the Grand Canyon
Jökulsárgljúfur, located in the north of the main island, is Iceland’s largest canyon. It hosts several interesting features, including three waterfalls, and has some excellent hiking opporunities. Geology and Formation Jökulsárgljúfur was formed during a catastrophic flood of the river Jökulsá, creating a 25-km / 15.5-mile long, 0.5-km / 0.3-mile wide canyon that sometimes has…
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Akureyri Rainbow Footpath: One of Iceland’s Famous Three Rainbows
In Iceland:s northern area lies its second city: Akureyri. With a population of 20,000 people in 2025, it is a bustling metropolis for this island nation of 404,000 people. Within the city is the Museum of Art, which the Akureyri Rainbow Footpath. As a staunch defender and supporter of equal rights for all genders and…
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Goðafoss: Waterfall of the Gods (Iceland)
Located in northern Iceland, Goðafoss is one of the most famous in Iceland with ties not only to the original Norse settlers in the 8th and 9th centuries but also to the conversion of Iceland from paganism to Christianity. History and Religion Iceland was first settled in 874 AD by Norse settlers who came from…
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Hvitserkur: Dragon, Rhino or Camel? (Iceland)
Located in northern Iceland, Hvitserkur is one of the famous shaped rocks in Iceland alongside others like Elephant Rock on Vestmannaeyjabær. But what exactly is its shape? A dragon? A rhino? A camel? I will let you decide that for yourself. Hvitserkur is a 15-metre / 49-foot basalt rock that sits off the Vatnsnes Peninsula.…
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Kálfshamarsvik: Beautiful Lighthouse with Horizontal Basalt Columns (Iceland)
Located in northern Iceland, Kálfshamarsvik refers to a historic lighthouse that sits on this coast warning ships of the peninsula. But what makes this special you ask. There are many lighthouses on Iceland (e.g. Svörtuloft Lighthouse and Malariff Lighthouse to name a few), so what is so great about this one? Well, the answer lies…
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The Guesthouse by the Fjord: Short and Long Term Accommodation in Þingeyri, Iceland
About HOTEL The Guesthouse by the Fjord Location The Guesthouse by the Fjord is located in Þingeyri, a small fishing village in the Westfjords of Iceland. It sits on the edge of Dýrafjörður (the fjord) offering views both out to see and further inland. The majority of the people here are connected with the fishing…
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Whales in the Westfjords (Iceland)
If you head to Iceland’s northwestern region, in addition to the amazing scenery, you can sometimes find whales in the Westfjords (or Western Fjords). Many people do this by going on whale-watching tours while others (spoiler: me!) are lucky enough to see them simply by driving around the fjords! In our September 2025 trip to…
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Seals in Þingeyri (Iceland)
Up the in Westfjords of Iceland sits the village of Þingeyri. A fishing village, there is not much there that would attract international toursts. However there is a seal colony there, so lovers of the animals can come and watch the seals hunt, bask in the sun and get into arguments. We discovered the seals…
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Dynjandi: Waterfall in the Shape of a Bridal Veil (Iceland)
In Iceland’s remote Westfjord region is Dynjandi, a waterfall that does something most waterfalls do not. Instead of simply falling straight off the rock face, the water fans out, creating a bridal veil-like shape. It also sits at the top of 6 other waterfalls, each either their own names: Hæstahjallafoss, Strompgljúfrafoss, Göngumannafoss, Hrísvaðsfoss, Kvíslarfoss and…
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Northern Coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula: A roadtrip
On a trip to Iceland I was fortunate to be able to spend two weeks there. Part of the two weeks included the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, some of which I have posted about in previous posts. This post is focused more on the scenery and the driving, especially of the northern coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula,…
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Kirkjufell: “Arrow Mountain” from Game of Thrones
Situated on the northern coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is Kirkjufell, a mountain that even many people who have never come to Iceland are familiar with. To these people, it is known as Arrow Mountain. Kirkjufell is a nearly perfectly triangular (from certain angles, or cylindrical from others) mountain that is its own peninsula off…
