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The road is intermittently dirt and there are a number of tunnels. The temperature today was an amazing 18 degrees!
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3731/...25d756fa_c.jpghusavik 14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/524/1...ca8edc53_c.jpghusavik 16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/503/1...898df2d9_c.jpghusavik 17 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3679/...9015fe07_c.jpghusavik 18 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3801/...4fc648c3_c.jpghusavik 21 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/507/1...6a0b73e0_c.jpghusavik 22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3669/...3749b916_c.jpghusavik 23 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/541/1...acd931b8_c.jpghusavik 25 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/376/1...513a9ee5_c.jpghusavik 27 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/549/1...4ed3b9a8_c.jpgFILE0445 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/418/1...7b83027e_c.jpghusavik 29 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/555/1...54e3e8fe_c.jpghusavik 32 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/498/1...9cc2c9f1_c.jpghusavik 26 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/340/1...1e44e3dd_c.jpgFILE0297 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/425/1...ff3989ab_c.jpgFILE0456 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/284/1...4e545586_c.jpgFILE0387 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3700/...8051a521_c.jpgFILE0396 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/261/1...e2676f45_c.jpghusavik 38 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Near Dalvik there is a basalt sculpture carved by the sea.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/261/1...e2676f45_c.jpghusavik 38 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/302/1...65695038_c.jpghusavik 39 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/360/1...35a6fc67_c.jpghusavik 37 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/426/1...2505bba5_c.jpghusavik 41 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/450/1...a7c3b14b_c.jpghusavik 40 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We headed south to the city of Akureyi, which is the largest in the north. Here we could stock up on food at the famous Bonus discount grocery store. Here we were back on the highway 1 and continued east to the famous Godafoss falls. Legend says that in the year 999 the “lawspeaker” made Christianity the official religion of Iceland and after his conversion he threw his statues of the Norse Gods into the falls.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/455/1...af730903_c.jpghusavik 42 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3753/...6bbc2c0a_c.jpghusavik 43 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/483/1...5377f091_c.jpghusavik 44 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We made a slight backtrack from here to go north further to the small town of Husavik.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/375/1...82cb50c4_c.jpghusavik 46 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/289/1...f0facf22_c.jpgDSC01701 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/257/1...6d31ef5f_c.jpghusavik 48 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/374/1...6a1f22b9_c.jpghusavik 49 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3796/...333ccda2_c.jpghusavik 50 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/377/1...c6d6662f_c.jpghusavik 52 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/371/1...3e3c9fb4_c.jpghusavik 53 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/367/1...9681757b_c.jpgmytvan 1 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
This is the whale capital of Iceland and the start of the Diamond route in north Iceland. The main sites on this route are the town of Husavik, Asbyrgi Canyon, Lake Myvatn, and Dettifoss falls. The campground here is situated with a nice view and about a 500m walk to the center.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/490/1...1eb6153f_z.jpgScreen Shot 2015-07-04 at 6.15.30 PM by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Leaving town north we spotted one of the many sod houses you can see here. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3675/...bf2887c0_c.jpgmytvan 4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/390/1...a74e35f2_c.jpgmytvan 7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/549/1...4e859688_c.jpgmytvan 6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/383/1...fe14d571_c.jpgmytvan 8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Dan found a motocross track and had to take the fully loaded 800 for a spin.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/376/1...f47b1874_c.jpgmytvan 2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/558/1...9ec027bc_c.jpgmytvan 3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We took the paved road up and around to stop at the visitor’s center at Asbyrgi Canyon. This canyon is a horseshoe shaped depression in the Vatnajokull National Park. It is 3.5 km long and 1.1 km across. It is divided for about half the way by a rock “island” popular for hiking. The canyon cliffs are 100 meters high and there is a nice nature walk at the trailhead. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3767/...347d6faa_c.jpgmytvan 9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/451/1...51142ce2_c.jpgmytvan 10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
From here we took the dirt road on the west side of the Jokulsa a Fjollum river. The narrow road has a surprising amount of traffic especially nearer the south end.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/497/1...c4932b05_c.jpgmytvan 11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Midway you can stop to see the lava echo rock formations at Hljodaklettar. The clusters of basalt rock columns are horizontal here instead of the usual vertical ones formed when lava is rapidly cooling. This creates an echo effect that makes it impossible to tell in which direction the roar of the river is coming from. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/490/1...b6a01f89_c.jpgmytvan 14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/553/1...397de900_c.jpgmytvan 15 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/470/1...ca4654c1_c.jpgmytvan 13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/268/1...c63753d1_c.jpgmytvan 16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/282/1...e389b6b3_c.jpgmytvan 17 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/477/1...cffd02eb_c.jpgmytvan 18 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3819/...d85ab408_c.jpgmytvan 19 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/401/1...5924be8a_c.jpgmytvan 20 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/430/1...2738753b_c.jpgmytvan 22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
As you continue on the road south it gets a bit sandy in spots and speeding mini busses become a hazard. The road is paved jut at the entrance to Dettifoss. These falls are 100 meters wide and the drop is 45 meters and said to be the most powerful falls in Europe.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3730/...cec5e8bb_c.jpgFILE0667 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/487/1...72b3b632_c.jpgFILE0668 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3762/...ed25f662_c.jpgFILE0631 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3776/...a64eaea3_c.jpgmytvan 34 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/374/1...2ffa2cff_c.jpgmytvan 30 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/429/1...94a05715_c.jpgmytvan 32 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/315/1...62e33985_c.jpgmytvan 33 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/377/1...531449ae_c.jpgmytvan 35 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
The sun finally came out are created some cool rainbows in the spray over the falls.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/258/1...a9f838db_c.jpgmytvan 23 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/492/1...136d7e52_c.jpgmytvan 25 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3807/...fcfc0d91_c.jpgmytvan 27 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/451/1...4ff222e4_c.jpgmytvan 28 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/332/1...d4d5cbb4_c.jpgmytvan 29 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
2 km downstream is the sister falls of Hafrailsfoss.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/457/1...57748a25_c.jpgmytvan 36 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
The road continues south to meet the highway 1 and we went east towards Reykjahlid on the northeast shore of Lake Myvatn. On the way you will find the geothermal park of Hverir. This moon like landscape has boiling mud pots, steam vents, and colorful mineral deposits. The stench of sulphur can be a bit overwhelming.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/361/1...b679f6d1_c.jpgmytvan 39 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/340/1...5bca9a00_c.jpgmytvan 42 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/255/1...c6e2a5d7_c.jpgmytvan 44 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/533/1...8a9b232d_c.jpgmytvan 40 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/454/1...53a6d8f1_c.jpgmytvan 38 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/392/1...f9932107_c.jpgmytvan 41 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/388/1...b614b4e8_c.jpgmytvan 45 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/343/1...880eef18_c.jpgmytvan 47 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/428/1...3f6d16b6_c.jpgmytvan 48 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Nearing the village there is a nature bath and an ice blue lake created by the geothermal plant.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/262/1...53b7b9c4_c.jpgmytvan 50 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We did stay at the campground here despite warnings of horrible midges for which the lake gets its name. There was a breeze and cool weather and so we were midge free. The local rec center has a hot pool so we all went for a soak. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/304/1...d48f45b4_c.jpgmytvan loop 2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/450/1...dc09ec6d_c.jpgmytvan loop 3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3724/...ea73b04d_c.jpgmytvan loop 4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/444/1...50f2e06d_c.jpgmytvan loop 6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Today we will tour the geothermal area around the lake and then try to head onto the mountain roads. We had heard that the F roads to the center of the island had opened the day before. That said we did hear the last 10 km was still snow covered…. If you want a ride up there in a super jeep it is 350$ per person!!
The Myvatn Lake was formed by an eruption 2300 years ago and the surrounding landscape shows the results. There are rootless vents or pseudocraters, lava pillars, and underground hot springs. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/484/1...8f3a5fa1_c.jpgmytvan loop 13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/285/1...f49ddc8f_c.jpgmytvan loop 14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
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