Flies? No, Midges - in Myvatn (Lake of Flies)

 We bought fly nets to wear over our heads just for this part of Iceland, never thinking we'd really wear them. Oh, we DID wear them and were very happy about it! This is the furthest east we got in Iceland. The area is rich in geophysical activity, volcanoes and stunning waterfalls (actually all of Iceland qualifies for that). It is here where we visited our only 'fancy' hot springs lagoon with hundreds of our closest friends. 

On our drive from Akureyri we visited the Godafoss (waterfall - 'foss'- of the Gods -'Goda'). It is two horseshoe shaped falls, sometimes compared to Niagara. But despite its expanded length, it is not very tall at 39 feet. Niagara has much more water falling over it. The falls' folklore is that this is where, 10 1000, the Chieftain in charge of Icelanders decided to accept Christianity (influenced by their Irish slaves) and threw his pagan god statues over the falls.

Godafoss falls

capturing the steam for power

oh oh, we aren't in Kansas anymore Toto

the colors, the grey bubbling mud-another planet?

steaming mound good for baking rye bread!

Mars?

Then on to Hverir Geothemal area for lava field and fissures, volcano clusters, volcanic lake. All near more steam plants generating power for the country. Most recent volcanic fissure activity was 1975 - 1984 spewing lava from openings in the ground/fissures. Difficult, but so interesting, to walk through this area.

we must drive UNDER the steam pipes! 

Krafla volcano, Viti crater lake - BLUE torquoise!

one of MANY fissures-had released lava, gases

see how lava cooled in ripples

see the strips of black lava rock next to untouched grass/moss

hiking the lava field

 

older lava field now covered in moss, lichen

yes, many MANY flies

12:30 - 1am  Northern Lights!!!  The skies were very active during our August visit. Biggest issue to seeing the lights was the cloud cover. This night was perfect.

still not complete dark at 1am

 

reminded me of living in Canada

Then a drive up to Husavik to visit the harbor (whale watching is big here) and then to Asbyrgi Canyon - a horseshoe shaped canyon that yes, has an Icelandic saga tale to explain it. Tho formed in a massive glacier flood (like we recently saw in Nepal) Icelanders were taught this was formed when Odin's 8 legged flying horse accidently touched the earth with a hoof. Which is more believable. 

Husavik church overlooking marina

Husavik marina

whale heart at  impressive Whale Museum

 

one of many whale skeletons we saw. whales have FINGERS!

bottom of Asbyrgi Canyon-before the climb

 

mark leads

thank you glutes!!

at the top, looking across to the other wall

what goes up, must go down. a family with small kids passed us!

We traveled to the nearby Hljodaklettar rock formations along a glacier river that were formed when molten lava was quickly cooled by the glacier waters. So interesting and weird! a fun hike.

giant volcanic rocks along the river

intricate formations

alien images?

so uniform and intricate

this formation called the Rosette

Dettifoss falls - most powerful in Europe. 148ft tall, 6.25 miles long. amazing!!!

Earth lagoon - building on right is the walk/swim up bar

steam in back warming the water

oops, here I am at Godafoss falls (see top of page)