Iceland's Highway 1 is the only route the circles the island nation, running over 1300 km across towns, natural wonders, and incredible landscapes.
|
|
It is morning in Vik, a small town on the southern shore of Iceland. The rain and fog are back, and the neat rocks just off the coast are barely visible.
|
|
So many waterfalls could be seen along the ring road eastwards.
|
|
There were also a lot of sheep. Lamb chops were common across Icelandic restaurants, and they were tasty!
|
|
|
|
Blocks of ice that have broken off the Vatnajökull glacier fill up Jökulsárlón's glacial lagoon. Like the glaciers I've toured in Canada, these chunks retained the deep blue traits.
|
|
These amphibious vehicles were not running when I arrived.
|
|
With global warming, would there be more glacial chunks filling up the lagoon going forward?
|
|
It was way past lunch time upon arrival in Höfn. This fishing town is also by the sea, but further east from Vik.
|
|
The rain would not cease, but despite the unpleasant weather, the photos still are able to convey the obvious livelihood of this town - fishing.
|
|
|
|
This town actually doesn't have many restaurants. We had to ask around to find a lobster dinner. Apparently, Höfn is famous for lobster!
|
|
After a night's rest, the drive continues across Iceland's east, then turning to the country's north.
|
|
Stopping just outside Höfn, the morning tranquility was eerie but beautiful.
|
|
There were lots of mountains and vegetation-filled plains. This part of Iceland is still lush.
|
|
The coastal scenery was beautiful. It was very different from the glacial views from the day before.
|
|
Highway 1 is not really a big road by international standards. It was 1 lane in each direction, and drivers policed themselves to let others pass safely.
|
|
|
|
Although the ocean was beautiful, there was a lot of territory to cover today, so it was time to divert onto a gravel road to cut across the mountains near Berufjordhur.
|
|
Two lost sheep were suddenly trapped on the hillside as our photography troupe approached, initially to photograph the waterfalls, but soon all attention went to them.
|
|
I'm not a geologist, but the facade seems to tell a rich history.
|
|
After a harrowing drive up steep gradients on gravel, experiencing snowfall in the upper elevations, and a fun descent back to the plains, it was time for a gas and lunch stop at Egilsstaðir.
|
|
This supermarket chain fed us throughout the trip.
|
|
Like the other towns along the route, this one was also not big. The airport was within walking distance from the town itself.
|
|
There was plenty of water around, enhanced by the autumn colours.
|
|
The drive towards Mývatn was totally different from the morning. The landscape was barren - it was as if we landed on the moon. It was a sea of broken rocks and signs of humanity disappeared for hours.
|
|
Iceland is a seismically-active land, and a great way to harnass it is to build a power station on top of it. The Krafla power station is a huge facility. There was no problem driving all the way up to the crater lake.
|
|
A strong smell of sulphur greeted visitors to Hverir, a large geothermal field of steam vents. While minerals and chemicals have scarred the earth into various colours, the hot steam was a welcoming change on a cold day.
|
|
There were a number of bubbling pools that are roped off so visitors won't burn their feet making the wrong step.
|
|
A sea of interesting pillars lay at Dimmuborgir. They were created some 2200 years ago when molten lava pooled here and hardened around steam vents.
|