Iceland 2011

Wednesday15June

Here we are in the Southern part of Iceland and especially south of the gigantic Vatnajökull ice cap. It covers the surface area of Corsica (8300 km²) and is 1 kilometer thick in places. It also hides a few volcanoes, including Grímsvötn, which erupted 3 weeks earlier. We will also see its ashes on some glaciers.

Southeast Iceland and our GPS readings during our travels around Vatnajökull

We make a detour towards one of the glacial tongues of Vatnajökull: the Hoffellsjökull glacier.

On the way to the glacier, we encounter caribou (Rangifer tarandus)!

An anemone?

The usual whooper swans

After the usual whooper swans, the usual Icelandic horses... This small horse, similar to a pony, is practically the only breed on the island. Horse imports have been prohibited since the 10th century. The other particularity of this horse is that it has two additional gaits to the usual ones (walk, trot, gallop). These are the tölt (it always has at least one hoof touching the ground) and the pace (it has both hooves on the left side on the ground while those on the

Continuing the journey with Jökulsárlón lake located by Route 1

It's late spring, and many icebergs have broken off the glacier. The black traces are undoubtedly due to ashfall from Grímsvötn.

Small boats allow you to go for a ride among the large ice chunks... No thanks, no way, these boats seem a bit too much in the landscape... huh.gif

We cross to the other side of the bridge where common seals (Phoca vitulina) poke their snouts out of the water to check that these photographing humanoids have only peaceful intentions... prostrate.gif

And hop, one last twist and goodbye!

The glacier is black with ash from Grimsvötn

We take Route 1 again, lined with Alaskan blue lupines (Lupinus nootkatensis), quite common in Iceland

Argh!! This short photo break allows us to notice that our old nag is weakening with a very flat tire... We'll drive a bit more and put on the spare tire later... doubt.gif

So we arrive at the Svinafellsjökull glacier. Here too, Grímsvötn covered the ice with its ashes during its eruption last May 21st. Let's remember that it is located 60 kilometers from here!!! hot.gif

Treks are possible on the glacier. Tomorrow, we will also put on our crampons for a short walk!

A rope allows you to descend to the bottom of the glacier

Close-up on the Grímsvötn ashes. I promise, I didn't taste it!!!  

Just because there are plenty of glaciers doesn't mean we should forget about waterfalls and basalt columns!! Fortunately, Svartifoss is right next door and worth the trip!

The 1.4 kilometers run along the river and this small waterfall (it's not Svartifoss!!!)

Here is Svartifoss and its magnificent basalt columns!

The hiking trail returns uphill via a beautiful viewpoint over the surrounding mountains and glaciers

We pitch the tent at Skaftafell campsite

Thursday16June

Busy schedule for this day because before walking on the Falljökull glacier, we embark on the great task of changing a tire................ Result: a broken nut... (no no, Christophe jumping on the crank has nothing to do with it!!! giggle.gif). But hey, "Blue Car Rental" our car rental company assured us we could drive like that. How wonderful!

A rock ptarmigan or alpine ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) with its summer plumage. In winter, it is all white.

We are far from the beauty of the Argentine Perito Moreno glacier that we walked on in 2009, but Grimsvötn didn't help Falljökull by depositing its black ashes there... glasses.gif

The glacier is constantly evolving; here we pass through this cavity under the melting glacier

That's it, the Vatnajökull park is over. The orange bus will take us back to the car and we will hit the road again for the south coast of the island

Once again, we cross a true desert of pebbles.

We arrive in the Suðurland region and the south coast is magnificent between cliffs and snow-capped mountains

We sleep at the Skógar campsite located at the foot of the Skógafoss waterfall.

Legend has it that behind the waterfall hides a chest left by the Viking Þrasi Þórólfsson.... Well, we didn't go check. sorry.gif

The view of the Skógá river from the top of the waterfall