Iceland
20th July 2014 - 25th July 2014. I first attempted to visit Iceland on a National Trust for Scotland cruise in 1978, but having sailed from Greenock to Reykjavik harbour, we couldn't go ashore because it was too windy to use the landing craft. This time, I stood for the first time on Icelandic soil after a two hour flight from Glasgow. I was on a tour organised by Iceland Travel, "Volcanoes and Glaciers" and based in three different hotels over five nights. It was an excellent opportunity to see the best tourist sites on the island, including the Golden Circle - Geysir, Gullfoss and Thingvellir. 19th June 2015 - 22nd June 2015. I revisited Iceland for a 3 night Wellness Break, returning again to the Golden Circle, but this time visiting for the first time the Laugarvatn Fontana thermal baths and the Blue Lagoon. Geologists recognise two styles of lava flows, which are given the Hawaiian names pahoehoe and a'a - both illustrated among the images below. Pahoehoe is the solidified result of smooth, ropey-surfaced lava flow. A'a has a jagged, clinkery surface morphology, easily remembered by the likely reaction to walking over it, as I found at the Blue Lagoon! |
 |
| July 2014. Skogafoss Waterfall |
 |
| July 2014. Basaltic columns in coastal cliffs at Reynisdrangar |
 |
| July 2014. The Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon |
 |
| July 2014. Aeriel views in a cafe of Heimaey before (right) and during (left) the 1973 eruption. |
 |
| July 2014. Heimaey, some of the 2 square kilometers of new land formed in the 1973 eruption |
 |
| July 2014. Strokkur geysir |
 |
| July 2014. Thingvellir National Park - rifting along the land extension of the Atlantic mid-ocean ridge |
 |
| July 2014. Thingvellir - the distant flagpole marks the site of the worlds first parliament |
 |
| July 2014. Gullfoss waterfall |
 |
| June 2015. General view of Reykjavik. |
 |
| June 2015. The Blue Lagoon, public swim area. |
 |
| June 2015. The Blue Lagoon, non-swimming area. |
 |
| June 2015. The Blue Lagoon, a'a lava alongside the entrance path. |
 |
| June 2015. Thingvellir, pahoehoe surface lava, amazingly preserved despite extensive rifting. |
 |
| June 2015. Thingvellir national park. |
 |
| June 2015. Thingvellir national park, showing tensional rifting associated with continental spreading. |
 |
| June 2015. Gullfoss. |
 |
| June 2015. Gullfoss. |