South Iceland
From Wikitravel
Europe : Scandinavia : Iceland : South Iceland
Contents
South Iceland is the region of Iceland along the North Atlantic Ocean.
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South Iceland charm lays in it's many large and impressive waterfalls, as well as unique geology and viking history. The area was the home of some of Iceland's most famous, vicious and respected vikings. The most famous Saga of them all is Njall's Saga.
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- Geysir Geysir, the hot spring that is the namesake for all geysers in the world, is also one of the most popular stops in Iceland. First stories of the Geysir area can be found in documents from the year 1294 when earthquakes were frequent in the southern part of Iceland and caused the area to evolve to its current form. In the year 1630 the geysers in the area had so much power that the earth trembled when they spouted. As with many of the natural features in Iceland, many will be amazed at how close you can get to the geysers. Access is very unrestricted, you are not held behind guard rails and no officials warn you off. It is exhilarating to be able to be so close, and refreshing to be treated as an adult. Here's hoping trial lawyers never discover Iceland. As well as Geysir itself, which seldom erupts, there is the five-minutely Strokkur, other geysers, and various strikingly coloured hot pools. There is free parking, a gift shop and a good cafe.
- Gullfoss (Golden Falls) is a magnificient 32m high double waterfall on the White River (Hvítá). The flow of the river from the regular rains and the glacial runoff, particularly in summer, makes it the largest volume falls in Europe. Numerous tours take you along a Golden Circle that includes Gullfoss. Free parking, gift shop, and cafe.
- Þingvellir This is the most popular national park in Iceland. This is valley is mentioned in many famous Icelandic sagas and is where one of the oldest parliamentary institutions of the world, the Althing, was founded in the year 930. This is also where tectonic activity can be clearly seen as the continental drift has identified and scarred this area for thousands of years. The valley itself is the cause of this activity and is getting wider every year. The national park is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Free parking.
- Kerið A small volcano en route back toward Reykjavik from Gullfoss. There is a small car park, and visitors can walk up to the rim in a matter of seconds, do a circuit of the rim in fifteen minutes, or easily walk down into the bowl on an obvious path. In winter it may be possible to walk out part-way onto the frozen ice of the crater lake. An easy volcano to get up close and personal with!
- Seljalandsfoss One of South Iceland's many falls, falling off a 60 m high cliff. It's biggest attraction is the pathway leading to behind the falls. Access to the falls is free and open year round. There are no services at the falls, besides a picnic table and a public bathroom.
- Skógar A small village home to the mighty and beautiful Skógarfoss waterfall and one of Iceland's most famous museums, Skogar Folk Museum. The waterfall is 60 m tall and 25 m wide and comes from the river of Skógá. The falls have been protected since 1987. There is a trail leading to the top of the falls and into the valley from the right side of the waterfall. Access to the falls is open all year round and there is no admission. Skogar Folk Museum houses a large collection of antique and historical artifacts. The museum is stretched over a large area, with 13 houses standing on the museum grounds. The museum is open June to August from 09:00 to 18:30, May and September from 10:00 to 17:00 and the rest of the year from 11:00 to 16:00. Entrance is 1.000 ISK for adults, 600 ISK for students, seniors and children aged 12-15. Free for children unter 12 if accompanied by an adult. There are several services in town, including restaurants and accommodation.
- Vík A coastal village is world famous for its puffins, black sand beaches, impressive basalt columns and strange rock formations in the ocean. There is a variety of services in town for the visitor, including restaurants and guesthouses.
- Þórsmörk is a natural pearl situated in a valley, tucked in between two glaciers. There are many hiking opportunities in the area, with its large network of marked trails. There is a lovely camp ground and several mountain cabins and little bungalows.
- Landmannalaugar One of the great jewels of Iceland, located in the Southern Highlands is Landmannalaugar. The area's incredible natural beauty and extreme contrasts have been attracting visitors for centuries. It's a mountainous area rich in minerals, which results in strong colors, and it's impressive volcanic geology brings you to massive, old lava fields and natural hot springs. There's a mountain hut operated by Ferðafélag Íslands - http://www.fi.is, and a simple, rocky camp ground is there as well. There is a simple mountain shop/café where snacks and coffee can be bought, as well as fishing license to the nearby lakes, where you can catch mountain trout. There is also one horse rental operated by Hraunhestar, ranging from 2 to 10 hours in length through the spectacular valleys and many marked hiking trails, one leading all the way south to Þórsmörk.
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A Golden Circle tour generally includes the first three above three sights. Various companies offer day coach tours, or a better alternative is to rent a car for a day; this will let you see many more sights and often save money, especially if you have 2 or more people in your group. This also lets you vary the time you want at each attraction, linger at the geysers, or have a stop at Kerið.
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The major concern for safety in South Iceland are the roads. The roads leading inland from Selfoss are very narrow and drivers should take special precaution. The national road from Reykjavík to Hveragerði, a mountain pass called Hellisheiði, can be particularly dangerous in winter, as blinding snow storms, icy roads and strong wind is common.
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