Kleifarvatn
The largest and deepest lake in this part of Iceland. The lake sits on a highly active volcanic fissure zone. The lake is surrounded by black sand shores and volcanic mountains. After the series of earthquakes in 2000, the lake began to disappear into a large fissure created by one of the earthquakes : an enigmatic phenomenon… Summer houses that were once mere steps from waterfront are now more than a kilometer away from the water’s edge. The placid waters have dropped more than four meters during the following year. In their place is a barren lake bed speckled with sulphur-rimmed thermal springs that spit boiling water and mud.
Seltún
We continue our journey to the charming geothermal field of Seltún. This place has many mudpots and fumaroles, heated by an underground magma chamber. Sulphuric water and gases have created colorful deposits. We will take a wooden pathways to explore this fascinating area, especially when a new maar is born with a spectacular explosion.
Grænavatn
Near the geothermal fields are located several maars, rounded lakes. They were formed by explosions caused by the overheated steam of groundwater. We will stop at the largest one : Grænavatn. Up to 46 meters deep and 350 meters wide, it is a gorgeous emerald colored lake caused by a combination of thermal algae and sunlight absorbing crystals.
Stóra & Litla Eldbor
During our tour, we will explore a protected natural feature : two perfectly-formed scoria craters. They are a part of a lava ring. The age of this stunning volcanic phenomenon is not well known, but if we look the soil cover, the effects of weathering on its surface it might be 7000-8000 years old. You will enjoy this amazing moonscape.
Krisuvikurberg
The journey proceeds through one of Iceland’s best-known bird-cliffs and the highest cliffs in the southwest part of Iceland. Their average height is 50 meters, and the highest point is 70 meters. It is a home for almost 60 000 pairs of birds – mostly gulls, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars. From the middle of March to the end of August you can watch also puffins – a living symbol of Iceland. And if we are lucky we can also see whales and dolphins which are floating near the shore.
Gunnuhver
This place is both surprising and enchanting. This is a crater with ocher and orange stones that contrast with the turquoise milky waters of a lake located at the top. It is said that if you put your head under the water, you can hear the volcano breathing…
Valahnukar
We continue our trip to a desert volcanic lava area. From there the view is amazing, you can see those cliffs and rocks growing straight out of the ocean and explore a mountain composed of tuff layers, pillow lava and breccia. This mountain was formed in a single eruption and shows evidence of the different phases of eruption.
Leifur Eiríksson Bridge
The tour continues through wonderful lava fields and we go to the unique place where two of the Earth’s tectonic plates split. You will have the opportunity to walk over this footbridge which crosses the fissure. This 18 meters long bridge, in a symbolic purpose, illustrates the phenomenon of continental drift and connects the tectonic plates. It is where the Old World (Eurasian continent) and the New World (North American continent) was engaged in a tug of war. From the 1220s to the 1240s, the area was all on fire ! Evidence of this firestorm can still be seen in the canyons, crevices and along the jagged lines of this amazing place.
Sog
In the heart of Reykjanes Peninsula, this place appeared after a volcanic eruption under a glacier who was covering the area a long time ago… Sog is the largest freshwater river in Iceland in terms of water volume (average flow is 110 m³/sek) and flows out in a multicolored gorge. These tint are due to few mud pools, sulfur, and a high temperature alteration of the area. You will be astonished by this colorful site and the mind-blowing surroundings.
