My kids (son and my new daughter in law) just returned from a trip to Iceland. They were married last year on January 2 and put off their honeymoon for a year so that they could take a week and celebrate their anniversary in this unique place. My DIL is a geologist and Iceland is a dream for her; son was into the whole adventure. They were primarily in Southern Iceland and began their journey in Reykjavik.When they returned to the states, we were treated to a photo session and I was given permission to post some of the unusual landscape features on the CGC blog.
Right now, the sun isn’t rising there until after 11 a.m. and it sets before 4; the sun traveling in a low arc in the sky. By July 1st, the sun is up at 3 a.m. and stays up until almost midnight. Temperatures year round average between 30 and 55F.This is a place where the Eurasian and North American Continental plates merge, of glaciers, icebergs, black volcanic sands, geysers and geothermal waters. There aren’t a lot of trees, but the sky and the mountains loom large. Contrasts of ice and fire, blues and greens- it gives an interesting color perception as opposed to places less north. The Northern Lights! Icelandic ponies!
What I noted is how connected the Icelanders are to their unusual environment and how they reflect it in their lives, especially in their art, jewelry and home items. In this climate, many of the older country places are bermed or set into the ground at least partially. The Icelandic climate is not conducive to traditional agriculture and they either have to have produce shipped in from Europe or grow their own under glass. I learned that Icelanders utilize vast greenhouses that utilize the geothermal energy that is so readily available.
Here are some pictures I grabbed from Sarah:
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- Glacier tongue
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- Mountains
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- Rock arch
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- Basalt columns (right side)
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- Permafrost?
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- Kids at Diamond Beach
