Iceland in Pictures

Iceland’s Svartifoss National Geographic’s photo of the week

The Svartifoss waterfall in Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park in Iceland is one of Iceland’s iconic postcard images. Currently this Svartifoss photo by Giacomo Ciangottini (who has many more great Iceland photos) is NG’s photo of the week.

It is very easy for you to get to Svartifoss and take your own picture. The waterfall is only a 40 minute hike between two glaciers from the service center in Skaftafell (right here to be precise). It is one of the must sees in Skaftafell and Skaftafell is one of the must visit areas in Iceland.

You can find basalt column formations such as this all over Iceland.

You know I actually walk along this path every day on my way to work. Although it is part of the daily routine, I guess you could have a lot of worse things in your daily routine.

Check out other great Iceland photos by UnaLei.

(via gotdreamstoremember-deactivated)

XC skiing on Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull, Part of the 8 day Vatnajökull XC ski tour in Iceland. The peak we are arriving at is Hvannadalshnúkur, Iceland’s highest summit. My own picture.

(Source: Flickr / steinarsig)

This is the opening of the main ice cave in Kverkfjöll, Iceland. The tunnel leads on into the massive Vatnajökull glacier for kilometers. All melted by this little stream of geothermal hot water. It is possible to wade up along the warm river far into the cave. However it is not recommended as it is very dangerous. The cave caves in every once in a while and large blocks of ice fall down from the ceiling. You may not realize this as they quickly melt in the hot water.

Lots more on Skarpi’s flickr.

(via fuckthereallife)

I mentioned Þumall in my last post. It is a peak shaped like a thumb in Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park and is an interesting climbing route. This picture is taken by Guðmundur Tómasson on a tour to nearby Miðfellstindur. You can check out more great pictures from the same tour. The text is in Icelandic but the pictures tell the story.

Don’t you just love how Iceland can have all these differently colored rocks in one place? This is Skaftafellsfjöll in the Skaftafell area of Skaftafell National Park. The little peak that looks like a thumb is named Þumall (Thumb) and is one of the most interesting rock climbs in Iceland.

This picture is taken on the route between Núpstaðaskógar and Skaftafell. The picture is taken by Jón Gauti Jónsson.