Iceland - June 20 - July 2, 2017
Page Two
Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Beautiful coastline view from the cliff-top trail between Arnarstapi and Hellnar.
The National Park Visitor Center is in Hellnar.
Lava formations along the coastline
Gatklettur, a natural arch extending into the sea, an unusual
form of lava erosion seen from the cliff-top trail.
Columns in the cliff were created by the cooling of magma after
volcanic eruptions.
Kittiwakes, a cliff nesting gull.
Kittiwakes
View from our lunch stop, Fjoruhusid Cafe, a tiny seaside
cafe with limited seating and famous fish soup. The soup
should be famous; it cost the U.S. equivalent of $25 per bowl.
Prices are very high in Iceland.
Along the western coast of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula is Djupalonssandur,
a black sand beach amid unusually eroded clumps of lava.
Trail leading down to the Djupalonssandur, Djupalon Beach. Looking back as
we were heading toward the beach.
The area is crowned by the glistening ice cap Snaefellsjokull, immortalized in
Jules Verne's "Journey to the Center of the Earth." Mt. Snaefells peak was
torn apart when the volcano beneath it exploded around year 250. The crater
is filled with the ice cap. Jokull means glacier.
Djupalon Beach up close
Lava rock formation in the water
One of the unusual eroded lava formations.
Snaefellsjokull area
View from the tour bus as we were heading north. We went
clockwise around the Peninsula.
Another waterfall. Waterfalls are everywhere.
In the area of the northern coastline is Kirkjufellsfoss, or Kirkjufells Waterfall.
View from the bridge above the waterfall
Kirkjufell, one of the most photographed places in Iceland.
You can climb it with a guide. The Kirkjufells Waterfall and River
are in the foreground. You can barely see a rainbow.
The third day in Iceland we took a whale watching tour from the
Old Harbour of Reykjavik. The tour company provided the overalls for warmth.
We saw both minke and humpback whales. I did not take photos, since
they rose above and went back into the water very quickly.
Link to Page Three - Iceland Hiking
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