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ICELAND - PART 1 of 2
September 2023
DALE SIEVERT
In September 2023 I spent 12 days circumnavigating the island of Iceland. It's relatively small, only 65% the size of Wisconsin, with a mere 400,000 people. However, it has vastly more waterfalls than Wisconsin, some 10,000, and it felt as though I saw two-thirds of them. It is reputed to be about the safest country in the world, which is maybe why I never saw a single squad car. It is also reputed to be one of the happiest countries in the world. I found that highly questionable, as I did not notice an abundance of smiling and laughing folks. Scotland and New Zealand, I thought, beat out Iceland there. And why, I thought, would anybody be so happy when it is so verrrrrry dark for so verrrrry long (in the winter, that is).....and where I saw only about 50 trees. In total. Finally, how can they be so happy when the winds ranged from 30 MPH on "calm days" to 90 MPH (I actually saw that on a map of the country showing wind speeds at every location--and I experienced that, so now I have another reason NOT to go to Florida, knowing what a hurricane feels like).
I had read that Iceland is incredibly beautiful, maybe the best in the world, so I was actually quite excited to go there. About 30% of the areas I visited were proof of that, but the other 70% was quite barren and unkempt-feeling (though I can see that many people might like that "rugged beauty."). And then there is all that RAIN. Still, I am glad I went, as the good parts far exceeded the "bad parts" of the trip.
Keiro Crater, formed by a sinkhole rather than an eruption
A geothermal field, one of many that provide heating and electricity in Iceland
This geothermal complex sends nearly boiling water 40 miles in pipes where it arrives at 80 degrees.
Really hot! Really foul-smelling!
The red pipe carries the water for 40 miles.
Just a nice waterfall whose name I forgot.
If you ever wish to live on a farm, this might be the place for you.
Another waterfalls, with 9998 left to show
Some really nice buttes
Then again, you might want to be Farmer Jones here
Black sand beaches near Hof formed by eroded volcanic rock
What a place for sheep to graze, with such a beautiful icefield to peer at
Eroded volcanic rock makes for beautiful scenes all over Iceland.
Still another also-ran waterfall to add to the scenery
Like the hikers on the left, I walked to the glacier in the distance.
This was the view at the end of the trail.
Gullfoss Falls, or Golden Falls in English, is the most popular falls in Iceland.
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