Throughout most its history, very few people showed much interest in Iceland. In fact, even as recently as a decade ago if you asked somebody what came to mind if you mentioned the country’s name, they would likely say, “Ice, perhaps?” and then after a brief pause, “Oh, and Björk, I guess.” But these days, tourism in Ireland is exploding. In fact, in recent years the number of American tourists alone who visit Iceland on an annual basis has outnumbered the country’s natives! Surprised? Not after you check out our list of 12 natural wonders of Iceland that you definitely want to visit.
1. Strokkur Geyser
Say, are you a fan of liquid violently blasting out of the ground? Well, you could witness this on the Saturn moon of Enceladus, but who has the time and budget to go all the way out there? Fortunately, Iceland has you covered. Strokkur Geyser, located east of Reykjavik beside the Hvita River is worth a visit. What makes it stick out from other natural geysers around the world is the frequency in which it erupts (around every 6 to 10 minutes). By comparison, Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park pauses between 45 and 90 minutes between eruptions. Jeers to that and cheers to Strokkur!
2. Thingvellir
Þingvellir National Park (which we have helpfully anglicized as Thingvellir because we’re guessing you haven’t mastered the Icelandic alphabet yet) has everything you need: canyons, the Öxará River, and lakes where you can dive, snorkel, and otherwise act like enchanted merfolk. The continental drift between the North American and Eurasian Plates is clearly visible here, which produces frequent earthquake tremors that you can experience for yourself!
3. Hverarond
The Boiling Mud Pits of Hverarond sounds like a location that JRR Tolkien would make up, but rest assured, it really exists. Wikipedia never lies, people. Hverarond possesses some of the largest sulfur spring areas in the entire country. Yeah, sulfur. Okay, the smell isn’t particularly pleasant, but the extra-terrestrial-like landscape makes it worth the trip. Just don’t get to close to the boiling soil!!! Tourists have been known to suffer from serious burns when they venture out beyond the trail areas. So…pumped up about visiting this site yet? As a bonus, if you’re looking to do a bit of hiking while you’re at it, a nearby trail can take you up the scenic Mount Namafjall.
4. Dyrholaey
This small peninsula, a pleasant 2 ½ hour drive southeast of Reykjavik, is located near the lovely village of Vik, the most southern point of the country. There is something incredible to see from almost every direction! To the north, you get a great look at the enormous Mýrdalsjökull glacier. Looking west, you can see the entire coastline stretching out to Selfoss. If you turn your eyes to the east, you can check out the Reynisdrangar Sea Cliffs, made from a series of black lava columns that emerge from the sea. In front of the peninsula stands the famous black arch of lava for which the peninsula is named. Oh, and you can even find puffins there in the summertime!!! No matter how cute puffins are, please resist the urge to take one home.
from Her Beauty http://ift.tt/2oyoALz
via Entertainment News
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