While North American and Eurasian plates slowly drift apart, magma fills the gap and this forms the Mid-Atlantic Ridge – a mostly underwater mountain range. Iceland is the highest part of the ridge and stands partly on both plates.
Iceland is one of the globes most active volcanic regions. Near the Iceland coast in 1960ies during the volcanic eruption has formed one of the planets newest islands – Surtsey. Many people could remember the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in 2010 creating havoc in ir traffic.
Iceland nevertheless is special not only because of volcanoes, geysers or lav fields. Iceland is located next to the polar circle and is warmed by the Golf stream. Iceland has one of the largest glaciers in Europe Vatnajokull and it has rather warm (albeit changing) weather.
There are two reasons we want to go to Iceland. The first one follows from the said above. The second is the Ecotrail of Reykjavik we want to take part in. We have 12 days for our journey and it apparently is not possible to see everything in Iceland in such a short time. After the intense analysis we decide in favor of 2 days in Reykjavik (before the Ecotrail), then the Golden Ring (one dy) and at last the trip around the Iceland.
The jet takes off from the Riga airport at 8pm on July 5th, 2017 and after the 4 hour flight we land in Keflavik airport in Iceland. We are still in Europe but on a North American plate.
We arrive at the accommodation in Reykjavik around 11pm after 40km ride. It is still light outside. We have a room on the first floor with a large balcony. Kitchen, shower and WC is shared.
| Reykjavik |
| Kopavogur |
| Golden circle |
| Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Vik |
| Vatnajokull |
| Sveinsteksfoss |
| Detifoss and Aspirgi canyon |
| Dalvik and the northern fjords |
| Snafelsnes peninsula |
| Glimur waterfall |