Iceland in Winter – 4. The South-East

The moon over the Vatnajökull lagoon. Nikon D750 (80-400.0 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/8″ ƒ/5 ISO 800, Some Photoshop retouching

Road N1. “Ring Road” that takes from Vik to Höfn, crosses a land that has been “created” by subsequent eruptions and consequently by the floods that have followed those events. It results in a vast white desert that fills in between the rocks of the Hjörleifshöfði and the Hvannadalshnúkur and, from there, passing close to the Jökulsárlón lagoon (see the “Ice” post), to the Vestrahorn.

Iceland In Winter – 3. Ice

The ice cave entrance viewed from within. D810 24 mm (24.0 mm ƒ/1.4) 1/20″ ƒ/4 ISO 800

Iceland is home to the second largest iced mass in Europe. It’ called Vatnajökull and it’s placed in the South, with its circumference  tangent to the coastline. In that spot, the  Vatnajökull’s outlet, called Breiðamerkurjökull, discharges the blocks of ice produced by the glacier into the Jökulsárlón lagoon from where they float free toward the Ocean.

Iceland In Winter – 2. The South-West

The cliff overlooking Black Sand Beach near Vik, Iceland. Nikon D810, 85 mm (85.0 ƒ/1.4) 1/100″ ƒ/3.2 ISO 64

Northern Light (Aurora Borealis) is a big attraction in the Icelandic winter, but it’s not so easy to catch. It depends on the intensity of the solar wind, the interaction between the interplanetary and the earth magnetic fields and – obviously – the  weather, all factors on which the human will has no influence whatsoever.

Iceland In Winter – 1. The Golden Circle

Thingvellir National Park is where the Icelandic parliament was founded over 1000 years ago. It lies in a rift valley  marking the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Nikon D810, 112 mm (24-120.0 mm ƒ/4) 1/100″ ƒ/4 ISO 64

Back in Iceland, once more starting from the Golden Circle tour. It takes the visitor to three exceptional sights in Iceland: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall. This offers the chance to see and experience in one day some of Iceland’s most relevant sites, concerning its nature, geology and history. 

Tour of Iceland 1 – The Golden Circle

The average amount of water running over this waterfall is 140 m³/s in the summertime and 80 m³/s in the wintertime. Nikon D810, 24 mm (24.0 mm ƒ/1.4) 1/125 sec ƒ/4 ISO 64

The South offers a repertory of almost all the features that you can encounter in Iceland and the Golden Circle displays most of them. So, if you are in Iceland for a weekend only, take the Golden Circle Tour and you’ll have a good taste of the country.

Tour of Iceland 2 – South-West

Turf roof houses are commonly found in small ethnic museums along the road. Nikon D750, 180 mm (80-400.0 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/500 sec ƒ/8 ISO 400

The South-West will surprise you with the glorious greens, the waterfalls and the cliffs where the birds fly.

Tour of Iceland 3 – South-East

Mount Eystrahorn, near Hvalnes. Nikon D810, 35 mm (24-120.0 mm ƒ/4) 1/1000 sec ƒ/8 ISO 200

The South-East of Iceland surprises you with some unexpected views while seduces you with its charm.

Tour of Iceland 4 – East Fjords

Historic house in Reyðarfjorður. Nikon D810, 44 mm (24-120.0 mm ƒ/4) 1/80 sec ƒ/8 ISO 64

We loved the East Fjord, with its beautiful landscapes, its wild life and the fine cuisine.

Tour of Iceland 5 – Highlands Gravel Roads

Landmannalaugar on Road F225

River crossing entering Landmmannaulaugar. Nikon D750, 220 mm (80-400.0 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/1250 sec ƒ/8 ISO 800

The trip to Landmannalaugar, a famous destination for its hiking trails, is of moderate difficulty, with just a few river crossings that should be no problem for a 4WD. It runs Norh-East on road 26, just off the Ring Road 1, to road F225 and then a full East, for extimated three hours on each way.

Tour of Iceland 6 – Capital of the North

Hof Cultural and Conference Centre. Nikon D810, 24 mm (24-120.0 mm ƒ/4) 1/500 sec ƒ/11 ISO 1250

Inhabited since the 9th century, today Akureyri counts a population of over 17,700. The town – an important port and a fishing centre – benefits of a relatively warm climate and the harbour in Winter is free of ice.