hiking
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Hiking in the Kiso Valley
Japan’s Kiso Valley in Nagno Prefecture lies near the Japanese Alps. History of the Kiso Valley Kiso Valley has been important to Japan for at least the past 1,500 years. There are records that mention the Kiso Mountain Road opened in 702 to connect current Nagano Prefecture to lands to the south. The region has…
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Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss: Red Stripey Waterfalls
Located in eastern Iceland overlooking Lagarfljót Lake are a pair of waterfalls known as Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss. Oh Iceland and another waterfall, I hear you say. Why should I continue reading this? Well dear reader, while it may be another waterfall, these are not just any old waterfalls. In addition to basalt columns (no, don’t…
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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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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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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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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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Malariff Lighthouse: Majestic White Giant overlooking the Cliffs
Located on the edge of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Snæfellsjökull National Park near Lóndrangar, Malariff Lighthouse stands on the southwestern coastal cliffs. Overlooking the ocean, it not only offers beautiful views of Snæfellsjökull (the active volcano with a glacier on top) in any weather but also stands near one of the early settlements of the…
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Lóndrangar: Rock Pinnacles Overlooking Cliffs
Located at the end of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Lóndrangar is a pair of rock pinnacles, sentinals sitting on the edge of a cliff. Part of Snæfellsjökull National Park, it is an excellent part of any day- or multi-day trip to this area. Lóndrangar is a set of volcanic plugs of basalt rock that have appeared…
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Dritvik Djúpalónssandur: Black Lava Beach and Cove (Iceland)
In Snæfellsjökull National Park on the western coast is one of Iceland’s iconic black sand beaches: Dritvik Djúpalónssandur – Black Lava Pearl Beach. Dritvik Djúpalónssandur refers to two separate things: Dritvik is the cove and Djúpalónssandur is the beach, although the name refers to several deep lagoons that are just slightly inland. Dritvik Djúpalónssandur is…
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Skarðsvík Beach: One of Iceland’s Few non-Black Beaches
Skarðsvík Beach is located on the northwestern end of Iceland’s Snæfellesnes Peninsula overlooking the ocean. While most of the beaches in Iceland are made up of volcanic rock, and are therefore blacks, dark browns and bits of red, Skarðsvík Beach is one of the few “blonde” beaches, meaning that the sand has a golden brown…
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Kleifarvatn Lake: Stark Contrast to Volcanoes and Lava Fields (Iceland)
Located on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland approximately half an hour from Keflavik airport, Kleifarvatn is the largest lake in the Setlún Geothermal Area. Meaning “draining lake” as there are no visible inlets or outlets (they are underground), it a stark contrast to the volcanoes and lava fields that make up this area of…
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Setlún Geothermal Area/Krýsuvík: Steamy! (Iceland)
Sitting at the heart of the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland, the Setlún Geothermal Area/Krýsuvík is an area of high geothermal activity. Steam rising from both streams and pools of mud in this area where lava sits close to the surface. Located just north of Grindavik, which has seen repeated volcanic eruptions since 2021 and…
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Bridge between Continents: Mind the Gap (Iceland)
Driving Iceland’s coastal Route 44 on the Reykjanes Peninsula, you suddenly come across a bridge in the middle of nowhere. While the bridge itself is nothing special (my personal opinion is that it is a bit of a metal monstrosity and the reason why there are no photos of the bridge itself), what it represents…
