Having the Hots for North Central Iceland

Having the Hots for North Central Iceland

Half of a country and many miles away, we've arrived in the geological wonderland that is North Central Iceland. It offers vast lava fields, hot pots, steam vents, epic waterfalls, lovely snow-capped peaks and fjords filled with whales, dolphins and sea birds. We stayed for 3 nights in Akureyri, Iceland's second largest city. Home to only 18,000 residents, it savors 22 hours of sunlight on summer days, but only 4 hours of daylight during the depths of winter, with it's location not far south of the Arctic Circle. Using Akureyri as a base, we explored the region's famous and unusual features.

Town of Akureyri dwarfed by a large cruise ship

Godafoss (Waterfall of the Gods) earned the name after the "law speaker" decided that Iceland was to become a Christian nation. Returning home, he tossed his pagan statues of Norse gods into the falls, as confirmation. 

Shoreline Lake Myvatn, with rough/ragged hoodoos (of lava) scattered about.

Eerie turquoise blue of a geothermally heated lake, hissing and bubbling to all that pass by. However inviting it looks, signs warn people to stay away, as the mineral content is toxic and temps are up to 200 degrees Celsius in some areas!

 Elevated view of Lake Myvatn, which straddles the seismically very active 

Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Europe's (and Iceland's) largest (by water volume) waterfall thunders over the ledge at around 195 cubic meters of water per second. With the sun behind us, standing in the drenching spray, we were able to see this rainbow.

A moonlike geothermal area with piles of stone filtering natural steam vents amid scattered rocky debris.

If mud cauldrons and stinky sulfurous fumaroles are your thing, come to Hverir.

If lovely powder blue, silky, warm mineral baths are your thing, then come to Myvatn Nature Baths. They rival the famous, expensive and touristy Blue Lagoon, near Reykjavik, but are much more relaxing, and accessible.

The gentle summer sunset over snowy peaks and the waters of Eyjafjord, driving back to Akureyri, around 11:30 PM

Glowing skies from a midnight sunset over North Central Iceland

Now north to Husavik for a whale watching day sail.

Barbara and Paul