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Iceland, England, Ireland (8/20-8/28/2009
Arrival and Reykjavik, Iceland (8/21/2009)
Arrival and Reykjavik, Iceland (8/21/2009)
We visit a geyser, a waterfall, a pearl, and more.
Ready for anything!
Views: 367
By: Balcony Birder
Icelandic accommodations
Views: 366
By: Balcony Birder
Can you say I_N_F_L_A_T_I_O_N? Reykjavik was the 5th most expensive city in the world. Today it's one of the cheapest and number 67 on the list.
Views: 323
By: Balcony Birder
So, how many Kronur did you say I could get for this quarter?
Views: 251
By: Balcony Birder
Our airport hotel. Ready for our first excursion.
Views: 378
By: Balcony Birder
We "spennid" our "belten" and enjoy the scenery.
Views: 390
By: Balcony Birder
Taking pictures through glass is always "iffy", but we'll take our chances.
Views: 437
By: Balcony Birder
Trying to take shots that show the varied landscape. Marvelous!
Views: 287
By: Balcony Birder
Vents like these, some larger, some smaller, dot the landscape.
Views: 310
By: Balcony Birder
This is a power plant. Iceland uses its naturally occurring geo-thermal supplies for its energy needs.
Views: 304
By: Balcony Birder
A portion of one of the pipelines that supply the country.
Views: 310
By: Balcony Birder
Ever changing scenic landscape. Interesting tidbit - Genetic info says Icelandic people (men) descended from Scandinavia and (women) from Ireland/Scotland.
Views: 345
By: Balcony Birder
Farming settlement. Vents in the background. The white dots in the foreground are bales of hay wrapped in white plastic. For size comparison see car on road.
Views: 332
By: Balcony Birder
Icelandic horses are small, sometimes pony-sized, and sturdy. They're hardy and long-lived and came to Iceland with its people.
Views: 326
By: Balcony Birder
Another surprise
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By: Balcony Birder
There are no shadows on the water. Here the inland river water (pale blue) meets the clean, clear water from underground glacial run-off (darker blue).
Views: 329
By: Balcony Birder
A small settlement of Summer vacation homes
Views: 382
By: Balcony Birder
A darling little church
Views: 360
By: Balcony Birder
Trolls and fairy folk are large in Icelandic mythology.
Views: 418
By: Balcony Birder
We arrive at Strokkur. The geyser is a ways off, but here in the parking lot we already see some run-off.
Views: 298
By: Balcony Birder
Hands off the Hot Stuff!
Views: 339
By: Balcony Birder
No self-respecting troll would have a home without steam heat, or hot running water. ;)
Views: 299
By: Balcony Birder
Velkomin ao Strokkur Geysi. The original geyser here was named "Geysir". Geysir, somewhat larger than Old Faithful, has been inactive for years. The word "geyser" comes from that first "Geysir".
Views: 386
By: Balcony Birder
Small, wannabe, geysers are here and there.
Views: 297
By: Balcony Birder
"Little Geyser" - as if you didn't know.
Views: 318
By: Balcony Birder
Strokkur site. This geo-thermal site is in the Haukadalur Valley.
Views: 353
By: Balcony Birder
Strokkur, only slightly smaller than Old Faithful. While waiting for the next eruption, we're advised to watch the water levels rise and fall.
Views: 300
By: Balcony Birder
An example of the "pulsing" water.
Views: 292
By: Balcony Birder
Strokkur erupts every 4-8 minutes. Strokkur means "The Churn".
Views: 350
By: Balcony Birder
The water runs back in. The immediate area on which Strokkur sits is about 2 1/2 acres. But . . .
Views: 299
By: Balcony Birder
But, the entire geo-thermal area here encompasses about 23 acres. This is just a small part of the run-off of Strokkur.
Views: 337
By: Balcony Birder
Back on the bus we take a last look at Strokkur.
Views: 347
By: Balcony Birder
On the way to our next destination we can see the tip of a glacier.
Views: 370
By: Balcony Birder
Langjokull Glacier.
Views: 376
By: Balcony Birder
We arrive at Gollfuss Waterfall, but there's a bit of a walk to get there.
Views: 323
By: Balcony Birder
From here we get a better look at Langjokull.
Views: 417
By: Balcony Birder
On the path to one of Iceland's 10,000 waterfalls.
Views: 319
By: Balcony Birder
Local flora
Views: 341
By: Balcony Birder
A heart of stone, and other designs
Views: 341
By: Balcony Birder
Hvita river feeds Gollfuss. The river's source is 25 miles away. Gollfuss means "Golden Falls". The sunlight mixed with the mist often casts a golden glow.
Views: 284
By: Balcony Birder
Gollfuss Waterfall's total drop is 105 feet and comes in two stages. The first drop is 37 feet and the second, 68.
Views: 398
By: Balcony Birder
Gollfuss Waterfall and canyon. The canyon is 225 feet deep.
Views: 290
By: Balcony Birder
The canyon is a mile and a half long after which the water flows into the Atlantic.
Views: 406
By: Balcony Birder
Obligatory rainbow picture and it's time to leave, but where's Michael?
Views: 318
By: Balcony Birder
MICHAEL! What are you doing?! We're leaving!
Views: 257
By: Balcony Birder
If you haven't seen this place you can't say you were here. But, then, we were here - and we can't say it either. :o)
Views: 303
By: Balcony Birder
We're happy to enjoy more scenery to our next stop.
Views: 332
By: Balcony Birder
Crossing the Hvita again.
Views: 299
By: Balcony Birder
This is one of the more spectacular views. The various streaks on this mountain were caused when the volcano erupted - UNDER a glacier!
Views: 310
By: Balcony Birder
Furball on the move.
Views: 311
By: Balcony Birder
Iconic Icelandic tundra.
Views: 266
By: Balcony Birder
Parliament Plains, Pingvelli National Park. Pingvelli sits on the boundary of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.
Views: 329
By: Balcony Birder
The 'Plains' are expanding and growing because the tectonic plates are moving apart in this area of the globe.
Views: 298
By: Balcony Birder
The plains below.
Views: 321
By: Balcony Birder
Earth's crust ripping apart.
Views: 344
By: Balcony Birder
Spits of land 'growing' into the water.
Views: 273
By: Balcony Birder
Tectonic activity is visible in deep fissures and dangerous gorges. Iceland is covered in a volcanic rock sheet, visible here.
Views: 389
By: Balcony Birder
A rift in the land, as massive forces tear the earth apart.
Views: 306
By: Balcony Birder
Obligatory 'we were here' shot. We looked for a concert pianist to take our picture but settled for a concert violinist.
Views: 306
By: Balcony Birder
Back on the bus, and this time were heading back to Reykjavik.
Views: 325
By: Balcony Birder
lots of scenery on the way back
Views: 301
By: Balcony Birder
gorgeous in person
Views: 328
By: Balcony Birder
no matter where we are we find ourselves awestruck
Views: 315
By: Balcony Birder
There IS snow in Iceland, it's just harder to find in the Summer.
Views: 242
By: Balcony Birder
not too much longer on the bus
Views: 341
By: Balcony Birder
Signs of impending civilization
Views: 304
By: Balcony Birder
Dinner and THE beer of Iceland. We did NOT eat fermented shark. It uses ammonia as its anti-freeze, and is only edible after being buried for 4 months.
Views: 380
By: Balcony Birder
After dinner. Reykjavik is known for friendly people and for being a party place on the weekends.
Views: 343
By: Balcony Birder
Exploring a little bit of Reykjavik. At 200,000 pop., the city is clean and a central hub of fishing, tourism, shipping and oil.
Views: 300
By: Balcony Birder
Hallgrimur's Church (front) The statue of Leif Eiriksson was given in 1930 from the people of the United States and dedicated to honor the Icelandic people.
Views: 354
By: Balcony Birder
Hallgrimur's Church (back) This church is the most popular attraction in Iceland. It is named after the Icelandic religious poet Hallgrimur Petursson (1614-1674).
Views: 312
By: Balcony Birder
lichen
Views: 402
By: Balcony Birder
After the stark nature of the day, we're drawn to color in a nearby park.
Views: 319
By: Balcony Birder
plenty of blooms
Views: 349
By: Balcony Birder
unusual flowering plant
Views: 355
By: Balcony Birder
The Greylag Goose in Iceland is equal in numbers and behavior to our Canada Goose.
Views: 283
By: Balcony Birder
"The Pearl". The round structures around the outside are actually water storage tanks. An observation deck runs atop them.
Views: 271
By: Balcony Birder
We're walking to the Pearl.
Views: 326
By: Balcony Birder
Reykjavik in the background as seen from the observation deck of The Pearl.
Views: 390
By: Balcony Birder
from the observation deck
Views: 321
By: Balcony Birder
Reykjavik
Views: 261
By: Balcony Birder
Twin bell towers.
Views: 254
By: Balcony Birder
Entertainment provided by heavy metal. Can Pearl Jam be far behind?
Views: 403
By: Balcony Birder
Hallgrimur's Church again, showing how truly massive it is.
Views: 253
By: Balcony Birder
We're losing the light and it's hard to capture decent pictures of bunnies and a European Golden-Plover (Pluvialis apricaria).
Views: 334
By: Balcony Birder
It's time to leave.
Views: 294
By: Balcony Birder
One last look at The Pearl and we go back to rest for the evening. Tomorrow is a big day for Michael.
Views: 342
By: Balcony Birder
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Title:
Arrival and Reykjavik, Iceland (8/21/2009)
Description:
We visit a geyser, a waterfall, a pearl, and more.
Number of photos:
87
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