nature
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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…
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Jemez Scenic Byway: Discover Northern New Mexico by Car
The Jemez Scenic Byway is a 132-mile / 212-km road that stretches through parts of northern New Mexico, extending just north of Albuquerque towards the Four Corners region, where Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah touch. It is known as New Mexico Route 550. The road runs next to the Jemez Moutain Range, a largely…
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Painted Desert: A Permanent Rainbow in the Desert
Painted Desert is located in Arizona in an area of the Badlands that makes up the Four Corners region (Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexican borders). Also part of Petrified Forest National Park, this area has some amazing geology that has settled into a striped pattern, creating a beautiful rainbow-like landscape. Geology This area has…
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Petrified Forest National Park: Trees Made of Stone
Petrified Forest National Park in the Arizona badlands is an awe-inspiringly beautiful landscape. Not only does it feature beautiful rock formations and stripey geography but also petrified wood. Lying on the ground all over the park, you can get up close and personal with trees of stone, many of which resemble rainbows. This article will…
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Mount Lemmon Highway: Views over the Sonoran Desert
Mount Lemmon, the tallest mountain in the Santa Catalinas just north of Tucson, Arizona, is an important location in terms of ecology, geology and astronomy. Hosting the Mount Lemmon observatory and its supporting town, people live on it year round. As a result, the Mount Lemmon Highway was built connecting the observatory and the city…
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Yakushima: The Southern Coast’s Rocky Beauty
If you ever get a chance to go to the island of Yakushima off the southern coast of Kyushu, Japan, you will immediately notice the geology. With over 46 mountains over 1,000 metres, it is no wonder that it is called the “Alps of the Sea”. If you are interested in how this island was…
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Ueno Farm: English Gnome Garden in Central Hokkaido
You would think that Hokkaido is one of the farthest places to be from the UK – and you would be right! However that doesn’t stop the Japanese interest in English gardens and gnomes in particular. In Asahikawa, Ueno Farm is the local example going one step further – it is gnome themed. Getting there…
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Shinsui Gorge: Beautiful Columnar (Lava) Jointing
Located in Kirishima city, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, Shinsui Gorge (known as ‘Shinsuikyo’ 神水峡 in Japanese) is a 20-metre gorge that has an intimate history with the surrounding volcanoes that the area is famous for. History of Shinsui Gorge Shinsui Gorge is in Kirishima Geopark, an area with over 20 active volcanoes in close proximity, known…
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Kenroku-en: One of Japan’s Three Great Gardens
In Kanazawa City in Ishikawa Prefecture, close to the castle, is Kenroku-en, a garden renowned for its beauty at any time of year—even winter! Spread over 11.7 hectares (nearly 25 acres), it has ponds, several tea houses, and one of the oldest fountains in Japan. History of Kenroku-en Local legend – Sacred Well of Kenroku-en…
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Nakama Banyan: Friendship Trees
On the Japanese island of Yakushima is a special set of trees called the Nakama Banyan. These banyan trees, which are a type of fig trees, have grown together into an arch – providing an excellent place for photos! In Japan, Yakushima is the northernmost island on which Banyan trees, which are native to to…
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Ne Vegan Restaurant: Yakushima Hidden Gem
When we booked a week-long holiday to Yakushima for the end of October 2024, we thought we were going to have amazing weather. Summer is over, so the oppressive heat and humidity would be finished. Moreover, typhoon season is usually only until the beginning or middle of October, so we should have been fine. Unfortunately…
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Yokko Keikoku Valley: Nagata’s Massive Granite Boulders and Serene Pools
Near the settlement of Nagata on Yakushima is Yokko Keikoku Valley (横河渓谷), a nature reserve that contains the upper part of the Nagata River. The Yokko Keikoku Valley is a forested valley that has been cut over thousands of years by the river, creating a nature reserve where Yakushima deer and macaques, along with other…
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Yakushima UNESCO World Heritage Listed Coastal Road with Wildlife
With much of the island of Yakushima being a natural reserve, along with giant ancient cedar trees like Jomonsugi, it is not necessarily surprising that it is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. On the west coast of the island is the World Heritage Listed Coastal Road with Wildlife, known as Seiburindou (支部林道, Western district…
