Iceland in Pictures

On the peak of the Snæfellsjökull volcano in Iceland

This is a shot taken by Will Copestake of his friend Remi McMurtry from Scotland at the top of the Snæfellsjökull glacier in Iceland last summer (click image to enlarge). As you can read in this Daily Mail article full of errors, the pair climbed the glacier last summer.

Snæfellsjökull is the glacier which covers the stratavolcano Snæfell out on the Snæfellsnes peninsula which reaches out from the mid west coast of Iceland. It is one of Iceland’s most beautiful and mystical mountains. It can often be seen across the Faxaflói bay from Reykjavík from where it usually appears to be floating on the sea.

The mountain has an interesting mystical feeling to it. People who live around say they can feel the power of the mountain. A British man, Michael Dillon predicted that aliens would land on the glacier on the 5th of November 1991. A colorful flora of 500 UFO enthusiasts along with a large representation of the media gathered on the glacier to await their arrival. Although some did feel the presence of the space beings, the lack of photographic evidence was explained by the media frenzy which apparently scared the aliens off. Some of the local inhabitants, including the witch Guðrún Bergmann, believe aliens regularly visit the mountain. The above photo shows a cloud which apparently is not a normal cloud, but a UFO which is actually on a very high frequency.

Snæfellsjökull first became internationally known after its role in Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth. Apparently the opening to the cave which leads to the center of the earth is at the top of Snæfellsjökull. If you are not much of a reader, you can watch the rather poor action movie version from 2008, featuring Icelandic actress Anita Briem.

The glacier also featured in the book, Kristnihald undir jökli (Under the Glacier), by Icelandic Nobel Prize winner in literature, Halldór Kiljan Laxness. Later made into a great movie.

If you would like to climb the mountain, then be aware that although it is a relatively easy walk, you must cross a crevassed glacier. This means that you must have the equipment and knowledge for glacier mountaineering. Another easy option to get to the top is to go on a tour with a skidoo. I think the only company offering tours to the top right now is Snjófell.

Woman on the top of the Snæfellsjökull (E. Lone Snow Mountain Glacier) in 1957. The glacier sits atop a volcano on the furthermost point of Snæfellsnes (E. Lone Snow Mountain Peninsula). At the top of this very picturesque glacier you can find the passage to the center of the Earth according to Jules Verne’s, Journey to the Center of the Earth.

The Snæfellsjökull glacier is thought by many to be a source of all sorts of power. People have claimed that staying near the mountain can cure diseases and refresh the soul. I don’t know about curing diseases but I guarantee a hike to the top will refresh your soul. On a fair weather day the glacier can be seen all the way from Reykjavík. Whether it is the healing powers or the beauty, a house in Reykjavík with a nice view of Snæfellsjökull can easily sell for a quarter more than one without the view.

Photo by Ingibjörg Ólafsdóttir / Reykjavík Photo Museum

Sunrise on Snæfellsjökull Glacier. Snæfellsjökull is a small but high glacier at the very tip of the Snæfellsnes peninsula on the west coast of Iceland. Many believe it has mythical powers and sometime in the 80’s odd people from all over the world flocked to it to witness an anticipated extraterrestrial landing. I guess the aliens backed off when they saw all the people.

This picture is from a cool set of photos of the sunrise on Snæfellsjökull. The pictures are taken by Gaëtan Priour a friend of my friend, María, who is on the photos. You can see many more pictures from Iceland on his photoblog.