Iceland - Western Region
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Grábrókargígar National Monument near Bifröst in the Western Region of Iceland
Grábrókargígar National Monument is comprised of three volcanic craters called Stóra (big) Grábrók, Litla (small) Grábrók, and Grábrókarfell. They are in an area known as Norðurárdular in the western region of Iceland and have been protected since 1962. While Litla Grábrók has mostly disappeared due to mining operations prior to 1962, Stóra Grábrók rises over 100 meters (328 feet) above the landscape. This set of craters is believed to be younger than 3,600 years old. These craters are a part of the Ljósufjöll volcanic system that belongs to the Snæfellsnes peninsula. They are the most easterly craters in the system with alkali olivine basalt lava flows that cover a large portion of the surrounding Norðurárdular valley.
Grábrókargígar National Monument near Bifröst in the Western Region of Iceland
Grábrókargígar National Monument is comprised of three volcanic craters called Stóra (big) Grábrók, Litla (small) Grábrók, and Grábrókarfell. They are in an area known as Norðurárdular in the western region of Iceland and have been protected since 1962. While Litla Grábrók has mostly disappeared due to mining operations prior to 1962, Stóra Grábrók rises over 100 meters (328 feet) above the landscape. This set of craters is believed to be younger than 3,600 years old. These craters are a part of the Ljósufjöll volcanic system that belongs to the Snæfellsnes peninsula. They are the most easterly craters in the system with alkali olivine basalt lava flows that cover a large portion of the surrounding Norðurárdular valley.
Grábrókargígar National Monument near Bifröst in the Western Region of Iceland
Grábrókargígar National Monument is comprised of three volcanic craters called Stóra (big) Grábrók, Litla (small) Grábrók, and Grábrókarfell. They are in an area known as Norðurárdular in the western region of Iceland and have been protected since 1962. While Litla Grábrók has mostly disappeared due to mining operations prior to 1962, Stóra Grábrók rises over 100 meters (328 feet) above the landscape. This set of craters is believed to be younger than 3,600 years old. These craters are a part of the Ljósufjöll volcanic system that belongs to the Snæfellsnes peninsula. They are the most easterly craters in the system with alkali olivine basalt lava flows that cover a large portion of the surrounding Norðurárdular valley.
Eldborg Crater on Snaefellsnes peninsula in West Iceland
A beautifully-formed crater rising 60m above the surrounding lava. The spatter cone is the largest crater along a short volcanic rift, 200 m in diameter and 50 m deep. Its last eruption was about 5000-6000 years ago. According to medieval chronics there was also one around the time of the colonisation of Iceland about 1000 years ago, but today it is known that it came from another of the many craters of the valley Hnappadalur which are part of the volcanic system Ljosufjoll, the mountains of the light. It is easiest to approach Eldborg from Snorrastadir on its southern side, walking 2,5 km through the shrub-covered lava field. It is possible to walk all the way around the crater as well as up it.
Lava fields on Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland
First sprinkles of now over some lava fields on Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland
Gerðuberg Cliffs on Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland
Gerðuberg is a cliff of dolerite, a coarse-grained basalt rock, located on western peninsula Snæfellsnes and on the western edge of the Hnappadalur valley, 46 km in the north of the town of Borgarnes and 115 km to Reykjavík. Gerðuberg was formed from flowing basaltic lava, cooled by the sea, solidified in very evenly running columns. These are between 1 and 1.5 m wide and 7 to 14 m high
Sanderling at Ytri Tunga Beach on Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Icelad
There are lots and lots of these hyperactive shorebords at Ytri Tunga Beach. Somehow I cought this guy thinking...
Bjarnarfoss Waterfall on Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Western Iceland
Surrounded by green fields and tall mountains in the background, Bjarnarfoss is located on the south of Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Sited in the river Bjarná, it falls 80 meters in two tiers from basalt cliffs. The upper tier of the waterfall can sometimes be blown upwards in strong winds.
Bjarnarfoss Waterfall on Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Western Iceland
Surrounded by green fields and tall mountains in the background, Bjarnarfoss is located on the south of Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Sited in the river Bjarná, it falls 80 meters in two tiers from basalt cliffs. The upper tier of the waterfall can sometimes be blown upwards in strong winds.
Bjarnarfoss Waterfall on Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Western Iceland
Surrounded by green fields and tall mountains in the background, Bjarnarfoss is located on the south of Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Sited in the river Bjarná, it falls 80 meters in two tiers from basalt cliffs. The upper tier of the waterfall can sometimes be blown upwards in strong winds.
Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge on Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Iceland's Western Region
Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge is a narrow cleft between the mountains Botnsfjall (469 meters) and Náttmálahnúkur (590 meters). The name Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge, or Rauðfeldargjá, is inspired the Saga of Bárður Snæfellsás that took place at the end of the 9th century. Bárður Snaefellsas, who was said to be half man and half troll, lived with his beautiful daughters near Laugabrekka (in Hellnar) and his brother, Porkell, lived nearby in Arnarstapi with his two sons, Sölvi and Rauðfeldur. One day when the cousins were playing by the shore, Rauðfeldur pushed Bárður’s eldest daughter, Helga, onto an iceberg, and it is said that she drifted all the way to Greenland. While she survived, unharmed, Bárður became so angry with the brothers that he pushed Sölvi off the nearby Sölvahamar Cliff and pushed Rauðfeldur into this canyon, now called “Rauðfeldur Canyon.” After the incident, Bárður was said to have gone into the glacier and never seen again. If you are lucky, on your visit you may see Bárður up in the canyon since it is believed that he is still watching over the area to this day.
Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge on Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Iceland's Western Region
At the entrance of Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge on Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Iceland. A little creek shows the way into the mountain.
Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge on Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Iceland's Western Region
View at the sky from inside the small cave at Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge on Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland
Inside Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge on Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Western Iceland
After hopping from rock to rock through the narrow entrance of Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge, a small cave comes up
Dramatic coast near Arnarstapi Harbor on Snæfellsnes peninsula in Iceland
Dramatic coast near Arnarstapi Harbor on Snæfellsnes peninsula in West Iceland
Arnarstapi Harbor on Snæfellsnes peninsula in West Iceland
Harbor of the small fishing village Arnarstapi on Snæfellsnes peninsula in West Iceland
Eystrigjá natural bridge near Arnarstapi in West Iceland
The tinly hole behind the little puddle opens up to a quite large natural arch.
Eystrigjá natural bridge on Snæfellsnes peninsula in the Western Region of Iceland
Eystrigjá is one of several natural bridges along the Arnarstapi coast line on Snæfellsnes peninsula in the Western Region of Iceland