<strong>Otherworldly Iceland:</strong> The Golden Circle, a 300-kilometer road loop east of Reykjavik, is one of the most popular ways to see some of Iceland's best natural landmarks.<strong> </strong>Þingvellir National Park makes for an extraordinary starting point.
Otherworldly Iceland: The Golden Circle, a 300-kilometer road loop east of Reykjavik, is one of the most popular ways to see some of Iceland's best natural landmarks. Þingvellir National Park makes for an extraordinary starting point.
Visit Iceland
<strong>Þingvellir National Park: </strong>The Þingvellir national park is where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. The two are drifting apart a few centimeters each year and Iceland will eventually be pulled in two at this spot.
Þingvellir National Park: The Þingvellir national park is where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. The two are drifting apart a few centimeters each year and Iceland will eventually be pulled in two at this spot.
Luc van Braeke, creative commons
<strong>Ásbyrgi: </strong>Ásbyrgi canyon lies in the north of Iceland. It's famous for its horseshoe-shaped depression -- a footprint of Odin's horse according to legend -- and a distinctive, 25-meter-high rock formation called Eyjan (Island).
Ásbyrgi: Ásbyrgi canyon lies in the north of Iceland. It's famous for its horseshoe-shaped depression -- a footprint of Odin's horse according to legend -- and a distinctive, 25-meter-high rock formation called Eyjan (Island).
Richard Gould/rwhgoul, creative commons
<strong>Reykjanes Geopark: </strong>The newly opened Reykjanes Geopark is one of the few places on earth where you can see the Mid-Atlantic ridge above water.
Reykjanes Geopark: The newly opened Reykjanes Geopark is one of the few places on earth where you can see the Mid-Atlantic ridge above water.
Daniel Thor, creative commons
<strong>Unique geological formations: </strong>Reykjanes is home to many unique geological formations -- such as the geothermal area of Gunnuhver, where the ground is constantly erupting with boiling mud and hot steam wafts across silica hills.
Unique geological formations: Reykjanes is home to many unique geological formations -- such as the geothermal area of Gunnuhver, where the ground is constantly erupting with boiling mud and hot steam wafts across silica hills.
TausP., creative commons
<strong>Secret Lagoon: </strong>Built over natural hot springs in the small village of Fludir, the Secret Lagoon remains at a steady 38-40 C throughout the year. There's even a small geyser that erupts every five minutes.
Secret Lagoon: Built over natural hot springs in the small village of Fludir, the Secret Lagoon remains at a steady 38-40 C throughout the year. There's even a small geyser that erupts every five minutes.
Leszek Nowakowski/Secret Lagoon
<strong>Hraunfossar: </strong>Hraunfossar, near Reykholt in western Iceland, is a series of beautiful waterfalls streaming over a distance of about 900 meters out of Hallmundarhraun, a porous lava field. One of the best viewpoints of the waterfalls and the river is from the nearby parking lot.
Hraunfossar: Hraunfossar, near Reykholt in western Iceland, is a series of beautiful waterfalls streaming over a distance of about 900 meters out of Hallmundarhraun, a porous lava field. One of the best viewpoints of the waterfalls and the river is from the nearby parking lot.
Johan Wieland, creative commons
<strong>Gullfoss: </strong>The river Hvítá plunges into a deep gorge over two steps, forming the Gullfoss (Golden Falls). On sunny days, the waterfall looks truly golden.
Gullfoss: The river Hvítá plunges into a deep gorge over two steps, forming the Gullfoss (Golden Falls). On sunny days, the waterfall looks truly golden.
nicksarebi, creative commons
<strong>Dramatic landscape: </strong>When approaching from the visitor center, Gullfoss is obscured at first. It appears that the river simply vanishes into the earth before you reach the edge of the gorge -- where a dramatic sight awaits. <br />
Dramatic landscape: When approaching from the visitor center, Gullfoss is obscured at first. It appears that the river simply vanishes into the earth before you reach the edge of the gorge -- where a dramatic sight awaits.
Visit Iceland
<strong>Skálholt Cathedral: </strong>Skálholt Cathedral has witnessed many historic moments -- including the bloody ending of Catholicism here in 1550 when the country's last Catholic bishop was executed along with his two sons.
Skálholt Cathedral: Skálholt Cathedral has witnessed many historic moments -- including the bloody ending of Catholicism here in 1550 when the country's last Catholic bishop was executed along with his two sons.
Nico Kaiser, creative commons
<strong>Haukadalur:</strong> Haukadalur is home to Strokkur, a hot spring that erupts every five to 10 minutes. There are about 40 smaller hot springs and mud pots nearby.
Haukadalur: Haukadalur is home to Strokkur, a hot spring that erupts every five to 10 minutes. There are about 40 smaller hot springs and mud pots nearby.
Visit Iceland
<strong>Geysir: </strong>Another Haukadalur attraction is Geysir, a now largely dormant hot spring that lends its name to all the other geysers around the globe.
Geysir: Another Haukadalur attraction is Geysir, a now largely dormant hot spring that lends its name to all the other geysers around the globe.
lisibo, creative commons
<strong>Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plants: </strong>Some streets in Reykjavik -- and showers -- are heated during Iceland's freezing winter thanks to the Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plants. The power plant, situated among the bare hills of the Hegill area, looks like a moon base from a distance. (Photo credit: <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcreativecommons.org%2Flicenses%2Fby%2F2.0%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">ThinkGeoEnergy, Creative Commons</a>)
Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plants: Some streets in Reykjavik -- and showers -- are heated during Iceland's freezing winter thanks to the Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plants. The power plant, situated among the bare hills of the Hegill area, looks like a moon base from a distance. (Photo credit: ThinkGeoEnergy, Creative Commons)
ThinkGeoEnergy, Creative Commons