Iceland: a country with a dramatic landscape

Iceland is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík. Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate, despite a high latitude just outside the Arctic Circle. Its high latitude and marine influence keep summers chilly, and most of its islands have a polar climate.

My four-day trip to this mysterious and amazing place was full of unpredictable things, experienced and seen before. You will be welcomed to one of the most pleasant airports you have ever seen, and if you are lucky enough to go during the winter season, you will be embraced by strong winds and weather that is not surprisingly cold as you thought ( if you have windproof clothing). The wisest thing to do when deciding to visit Iceland is to rent a car. If you go in the winter season I advise you to rent a car that adapts to winter weather, icy roads, and strong winds. A car that you can pick up from the airport, that has the internet and that will enable you to move freely during the travel days. If you go during the winter season you will have around 5 hours of light a day. With the sun rising around 11 a.m., if you are a good driver then I advise you to start your journey as early as possible, without waiting for the sun to rise, so that you can visit more places. Through this article, I will tell you about the places I have visited that have been extraordinary.

I am going to tell you about a beautiful valley called Reykjadalur valley, the name of the valley, Reykjadalur, means Steam Valley. The valley is filled with hot springs and mud pools, and there is even a hot river in which one can bathe! The hike starts from the parking lot where you first cross a bridge over a river and a hike on a gravel trail up the Rjúpnabrekkur Ptarmigan slopes, leading to Reykjadalur hot steam valley. The hike is 3 km long one way and will take about 45-60 minutes one way with plenty of photo stops. On the first part of the trail, there are several hot springs and mud pools to the left. And a borehole called Drottningarhola or Queen's borehole. It is so worth visiting. The next day we took the Golden Circle. That day we visited Þingvellir National Park. Þingvellir (Thingvellir) is a historic site and national park in Iceland, east of Reykjavík. It's known for the Alþing (Althing), the site of Iceland's parliament from the 10th to 18th centuries. On the site are the Þingvellir Church and the ruins of old stone shelters. The park sits in a rift valley caused by the separation of 2 tectonic plates, with rocky cliffs and fissures like the huge Almannagjá fault. On this journey, we visited Öxarárfoss and Silfra. On the third day, we headed to Gullfoss (translated to 'Golden Falls'). This waterfall is one of Iceland's most iconic and beloved waterfalls, found in the Hvítá river canyon in Southwest Iceland. The water in the Hvítá river travels from the glacier Langjökull, before cascading 32 meters (105 feet) down Gullfoss' two stages in a dramatic display of nature's raw power. Here the wind is too strong so you need to be careful when walking. The next spot was the Geysir, the famed hot spring Geysir is located in the Haukadalur valley in southwestern Iceland. We wished we had more daylight to visit more places but the long-distance from our accommodation and each location required long hours of driving. If you have lots of money, then find different accommodation in different locations.  On the last day, we went to one of the most beautiful places I have been to. Reynisfjara is located on the south coast of Iceland and is considered as THE Black Beach in Iceland, with its distinctive Icelandic black sand, enormous columns of basalt, and massive waves crashing into the shore. The basalt rock formations have so unique shape, that they were used for a few episodes of Game of Thrones! How to stay safe on that beach? Follow these rules: Do not swim in the water. Do not turn your back on the sea or waves. Do not let children wander the beach unsupervised. Do not climb on icebergs or mounds of ice. To finish your journey then go for a visit to Skaftfellingur Museum, Vik. The Skaftfellingur Museum has a 100-year-old oak cargo ship along with the authentic, rusted parts of the ship that are showcased alongside the vintage photos. You can still see the original white paint on the wooden ship along with its well-preserved frame and masts. Along with the engine of the ship, clothes worn by the sailors, a miniature model of the ship, and a documentary movie about the history and discovery of the ship, the exhibits- even though minimal, make for an interesting find. If you love ships and are interested in maritime exhibits, a short visit here is apt to wrap up your stay in Vik.

These were my four days in Iceland. I might have left aside some beautiful landscapes we so on our way to the places mentioned below, or the unique Icelandic horses, but to experience them you should visit this country. You will have a great time, filled with many great memories, experiences, and it will make you want to go back over and over again.

Sources used:

https://www.triphobo.com/places/vik-iceland/skaftfellingur-museum

https://guidetoiceland.is/travel-iceland/drive/gullfoss

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland

https://grayline.is/tours/reykjavik/golden-circle-classic-tour-8706_9