7天6夜环岛旅行团｜本地向导带你进行一场白日梦想家的旅行

绵延300公里的黄金圈是冰岛最热门的旅游路线，盖歇尔间歇泉地热区(Geysir)、黄金瀑布(Gullfoss)与辛格维利尔国家公园(Þingvellir)三大景点都是冰岛旅行的必游景点。

黄金圈景区交通便利，从首都雷克雅未克出发一日之内即可往返；租车自驾和参加旅行团都是绝佳的旅行选择，一些旅行团还将黄金圈自然观光与浮潜、雪地摩托、直升机、午夜阳光等特色旅行项目结合，升级黄金圈旅行体验。

黄金圈是冰岛最经典的旅行路线，三大自然景点尽显冰岛地质的神奇瑰丽与冰岛文化的恢弘迷人。

盖歇尔间歇泉地热区

盖歇尔间歇泉地热区位于Haukadalur山谷内。间歇泉这一地热奇观的英文学名“geyser”就源自这一地区的盖歇尔(Geysir)。

如今盖歇尔已几乎不再喷发，取而代之的是活跃的史托克间歇泉(Strokkur)；每隔5～10分钟，史托克便喷发出40余米的沸腾水柱，地心深处的澎湃力量也由此涌出地表。

地热区还遍布着蒸汽孔、沸泥潭、地热喷泉等地热奇观，除了盖歇尔与史托克外，这里还分布有Smiður与Litli-Strokkur两座小型间歇泉。盖歇尔景区设施齐全，设有酒店、餐厅、咖啡厅与旅行纪念品商店。

黄金瀑布

黄金瀑布是冰岛最壮丽的瀑布之一，也是冰岛最大的断层瀑布。瀑布高达32米，分为两层汇入峡谷；发源自Hvítá“白河”的黄金瀑布水流极为丰沛，Hvítá也是冰岛最受欢迎的漂流地点之一。黄金瀑布距离盖歇尔间歇泉地热区仅有10分钟车程，也是黄金圈三大景点中距离首都雷克雅未克最远的一处。

20世纪初时，英国投资者预备在黄金瀑布筑坝，利用瀑布的强大水能发电。虽然已拿到一纸租约，但瀑布土地所有者的女儿Sigríður Tómasdóttir始终与其抗争，竭尽全力保护这片生养自己的美丽国土。Sigríður曾数度步行200公里，往返于雷克雅未克与黄金瀑布之间，与律师商讨对策，最终终使投资商放弃了修建水电站的计划。

Sigríður终于成功，冰岛也从此禁止外国投资商染指瀑布；Sigríður被誉为冰岛第一位环境主义者，也位列冰岛历史上最重要的人物之一。

辛格维利尔国家公园

辛格维利尔国家公园是黄金圈景区的最后一处景点。公元930年，冰岛议会于辛格维利尔成立，直至1798年才搬迁至雷克雅未克。冰岛议会也是世界上运行时间最长的民主议会。

辛格维利尔国家公园被联合国教科文组织认证为世界文化遗产，也是冰岛最具历史文化价值的人文景点之一。与此同时，辛格维利尔恢弘的地理地质与维京历史亦相映成趣。北美与亚欧两大地质板块于此交界，大西洋中脊横贯其间，板块分界的大裂谷与火山地貌无比震撼。

丝浮拉大裂缝(Silfra)即形成于板块地质运动，裂缝中注满了纯净剔透的冰川融水，水下能见度可达100米以上，五光十色的水下世界仿如梦幻，因此丝浮拉大裂缝也成为了举世闻名的浮潜与潜水地点。丝浮拉水温常年维持在2°C，因此多数游客会选择参加干衣浮潜，收获在两大板块之间潜水畅游的非凡体验。

在Almannagjá峡谷，游客可以触摸北美板块的粗糙边缘；在冰岛最大湖泊议会湖(Þingvallavatn)，游客则可以领略粗犷火山地貌的静美一面。

黄金圈景区小众景点

黄金圈景区位于冰岛西南部，与许多小众景点相距不远。Flúðir小镇的秘密温泉与Laugarvatn地区的Fontana温泉都是体验冰岛地热温泉的完美去处；经由朗格冰川(Langjökull)的人造冰川隧道，游客可以深入探秘冰川内部构造；在索尔黑马生态村(Sólheimar)，游客可以体验别样的生活艺术；Kerið火山口湖的迷人景色也同样不容错过。

推荐阅读《冰岛百科｜著名景区黄金圈－9种小众玩法》攻略，解锁更多黄金圈自驾与参团玩法。

冰岛东部地域广阔，以极致的自然美景与迷人的历史文化著称。鲜少有人造访的东部峡湾即属冰岛东部大区，各具魅力的峡湾小镇与丰富的野生生态是东部峡湾的最大特色。

冰岛东部的小镇与基础设施

冰岛东部的城镇并不多，其中基础设施最完备的是东部地区的最大城镇：埃伊尔斯塔济(Egilsstaðir)。

埃伊尔斯塔济镇上设有餐厅、商店、加油站以及适合不同旅行预算的住宿选择，也有博物馆等文化设施。埃伊尔斯塔济也设有机场，游客可以选乘冰岛国内航班，从雷克雅未克飞抵埃伊尔斯塔济，参加从当地出发的冰岛东部旅行团。

塞济斯菲厄泽(Seyðisfjörður)是冰岛东部另一个著名小镇，《白日梦想家》电影就曾在此取景；除了一般的旅游服务外，游客还可以选择从这里搭乘轮船，前往斯堪的纳维亚地区的其他国家。“神山小镇”Djúpivogur也同样是冰岛东部的重要城镇之一。

冰岛东部也是Kárahnjúkar水力发电站的所在地，电站为许多城镇提供能源。大坝的建造曾引发对冰岛生态环境的热烈争论。

冰岛东部的自然与生态

冰岛东部以群山环围的峡湾景色而闻名，幽深的峡湾内也坐落着许多可爱的渔村小镇。

东部的内陆地区则有着肥沃的农业耕作区，同时也是冰岛最大森林Hallormsstaðaskógur的所在地，森林也是冰岛桦树分布面积最大的区域。距离森林不远处拉加尔湖(Lagarfljót)则是东部地区的另一大自然景点，传说湖中栖居着一只蛇形水怪！

许多河流贯穿冰岛东部，在这些河流的河口通常都能找到海豹的聚居地。资源丰富的水域中富含海洋生物，也为鲸鱼和海豚提供了充足的食物，东部地区的自然生态因此无比活跃。

冰岛最高的独立山峰Snӕfell是冰岛东部的地标性景点，高原绿洲Eyjabakkar则是世界上最大的粉脚雁栖息地之一。

冰岛野生驯鹿也聚居在冰岛的东部。驯鹿最早被挪威商人带到冰岛，但由于缺乏系统饲养的农场，这些驯鹿现在均成为了无人养殖的野生动物。许多鸟类夏季时也会来到冰岛东部栖息，其中就包括可爱的海鹦。

欧洲最大冰川——瓦特纳冰原(Vatnajökull)一路从冰岛南岸延展至冰岛东部，常常会在视线中出现。

冰岛东部的文学文化

冰岛东部文化、历史的中心是Fljótsdalshérað地区的Skriðuklaustur。这里曾是冰岛中世纪的修道院，也是东部地区的宗教中心；20世纪时，冰岛著名作家贡纳尔·贡纳尔松(Gunnar Gunnarsson)也曾经居住于此潜心创作。

贡纳尔曾经创作出众多大师级文学作品，例如《降临节》(Aðventa)、《黑鸟》(Svartfugl)、《博尔加家族萨迦》(Saga borgarættarinnar)、自传体小说《山上教堂》(Fjallkirkjan)等。

冰岛东部的现代文化依然活跃，主要以各类特色节日的形式体现。每年在塞济斯菲厄泽(Seyðisfjörður)举行的LungA音乐节、在Neskaupstaður举行的Eistnaflug重金属音乐节和Neistaflug音乐节都吸引了来自冰岛全国乃至世界各地的无数游客额。

从地理位置来说，冰岛首都雷克雅未克同属冰岛西部。此外冰岛西部还有三大主要景区：斯奈山半岛(Snӕfellsnes)、博尔加峡湾(Borgarfjörður)和布雷扎峡湾(Breiðafjörður)。冰岛西部集聚着欧洲流速最快的温泉、冰岛最大的熔岩洞穴、迷人的冰川、美丽的瀑布、历史悠久的文化遗迹等景点。

虽然西峡湾地区和雷克雅内斯半岛(Reykjanes)也都位于冰岛西部，但人们常将其视为两个独立的区域，将其作为特殊地区单独介绍。

冰岛首都地区

冰岛的首都是雷克雅未克(Reykjavík)，城市人口约为120,000，整个大雷克雅未克地区的人口则超过200,000。雷克雅未克的历史要追溯至公元870年：第一位定居冰岛的维京人英格尔夫·阿纳尔松(Ingólfur Arnarson)将此处作为定居地。

雷克雅未克也是冰岛历史最悠久的聚落，也是冰岛文化艺术的心脏。Sónar音乐节、冰岛电波音乐节(Iceland Airwaves)、秘密夏至音乐节(Secret Solstice)都在每年如期举行；同志大游行、冰岛文化之夜等盛大的文化节日也都以雷克雅未克为主阵。城市的博物馆、艺术馆各具特色，街头艺术、雕塑作品随处可见，还有许多听现场音乐、看艺术表演的场地与美味地道的酒吧与餐厅。雷克雅未克是一座充满活力的北欧都市。

哈尔格林姆斯大教堂(Hallgrímskirkja)、Harpa音乐会议厅、太阳航海者雕塑(Sólfar)等雷克雅未克的著名地标也都是赫赫有名的必游景点。

雷克雅未克是许多游客的自由行基地，也是很多冰岛旅行团出发的地点。您可以在雷克雅未克攻略页面找到更多由冰岛本地人撰写的实用旅行信息。

博尔加峡湾

博尔加峡湾位于雷克雅未克以北，不少著名的历史和自然景点就坐落于此。例如雷克霍特(Reykholt)就是冰岛中世纪文豪斯诺里·斯图鲁松(Snorri Sturluson)的故居，他曾在这里创作出了《散文埃达》、《挪威列王传》等北欧经典文学作品。

博尔加峡湾地区的最大城市是博尔加内斯(Borgarnes)，这也是冰岛最早有人定居的地区之一。参观当地的冰岛定居中心展览(Settlement Centre)，您将更加深入地了解冰岛历史。

博尔加峡湾也不乏自然胜景。冰岛第二高的瀑布——格里穆尔瀑布(Glymur)以及熔岩瀑布(Hraunfossar)、儿童瀑布(Barnafoss)都跻身冰岛最美瀑布之列；冰岛最长的熔岩洞穴Viðgelmir、欧洲流速最快的温泉德尔达图赫菲(Deildartunguhver)、冰岛第二大冰川——朗格冰川(Langjökull)也都位于这个迷人的峡湾之内。

斯奈山半岛

有“冰岛缩影”之称的斯奈山半岛也同属冰岛西部。磅礴的斯奈菲尔冰川火山(Snӕfellsjokull)与以冰川为中心的斯奈菲尔国家公园就坐落在这座狭长半岛之上。

斯奈山半岛因地貌丰富多样、极具冰岛特色而被誉为冰岛缩影，您将在半岛上发现火山、冰川、瀑布、山脉、熔岩原等奇妙的地理构造。半岛上最热门的景点是教会山(Kirkjufell，也称草帽山)、Gerðuberg玄武岩壁以及有“怪物海岸”之称的Lóndrangar海蚀柱。

布雷扎峡湾

布雷扎峡湾分割了西峡湾与斯奈山半岛，海湾内散落着无数小岛，成千上万的鸟类都以此为家，其中就包括冰岛非官方“国鸟”海鹦。

古老的Eiriksstadir农场就位于布雷扎峡湾地区，也是维京人红发艾瑞克(Eric the Red)的故居。红发艾瑞克是第一个踏上格陵兰岛的欧洲人(于公元984年)，其子莱夫·艾瑞克森(Leifr Eiríksson)则先于哥伦布500年发现了北美洲(约于公元1000年)。

阿克雷里(Akureyri)被誉为“冰岛北部首都”，栖于埃亚峡湾(Eyjafjörður)内，距离北极圈仅100公里；阿克雷里人口达17800，是冰岛第二大城市。

经济概况

阿克雷里是冰岛的渔业重镇之一，而近年来旅游业、工业、高等教育与服务业亦日渐成为城市的经济支柱。

阿克雷里位于一号环岛公路沿线，交通发达。市中心三公里外即是国内机场，阿克雷里的港口亦多船只往来，颇为繁忙。

渔业是阿克雷里的传统经济支柱，冰岛最大渔业公司Samherji在城市设有分部；冰岛最大的酿酒厂Vifilfell也设址于此，著名的Kaldi精酿啤酒就产自阿克雷里。

阿克雷里基础设施极为完善，阿克雷里医院(Sjúkrahúsið á Akureyri (SAk), Fjórðungssjúkrahúsið á Akureyri (FSA))即是冰岛的两大医院之一。

在阿克雷里旅行的游客还将领略到独一无二的北欧自然、文化与历史之美；Hlíðarfjall滑雪场更是户外运动爱好者的天堂，每年的Ak Extreme滑雪节都将在这座冰岛最佳滑雪场举行。

自然概况

阿克雷里位居埃亚峡湾(Eyjafjörður，又称岛屿峡湾)，四周为群山环绕，最高峰Kerling海拔达1538米。赫里塞岛(Hrísey)位于埃亚峡湾与格里姆塞岛(Grímsey)之间，两座岛屿同属阿克雷里辖域。赫里塞岛常被誉为“埃亚峡湾的明珠”，而格里姆塞岛是冰岛唯一一处位于北极圈内的领土，故有“北极圈的明珠”的美誉。每年夏季，两座僻静的小岛也都成了北极海鹦的热闹家园。

阿克雷里与冰岛北部的其他热门景区也相距不远。米湖地区(Mývatn)、黛提瀑布(Dettifoss)均是冰岛北部钻石圈景区的明星景点。米湖以月球般的自然地质、外星般的地热活动与活跃的鸟类生活而闻名，黛提瀑布则是欧洲最汹涌的瀑布。

瓦斯半岛(Vatnsnes)上的华姆斯唐吉(Hvammstangi)是冰岛观赏海豹的最佳地点之一，著名的犀牛石(亦称象鼻石)Hvítserkur也坐落于半岛地区。两处景点都与阿克雷里距离适中。

沿一号公路从南部首都雷克雅未克北上，仅需5小时即可到达阿克雷里。

历史文化概况

二战期间，阿克雷里是同盟国的重要据点之一；城市也在外国驻军的影响下迅速发展扩大，大量居民从乡村迁入城市。

阿克雷里是冰岛文化中心之一，文化场所、酒吧、餐厅中常常上演音乐演出与艺术展览。每年夏天，Vaka民俗节等盛大节日也会在阿克雷里举办。

城市中的文化场所也展示了冰岛建筑之美：集音乐演出与展览于一体的Hof文化中心、主题各异的博物馆以及全年营业的圣诞屋。

世界最北的植物园也是阿克雷里居民引以为豪的热门景点之一。想要体验冰岛小众生活的游客，还可以到市中心的温泉泳池去泡地热温泉。

阿克雷里教堂(Akureyrarkirkja)是这座城市最知名的地标景点。教堂修建于1940年，由冰岛彼时最著名的建筑设计师古德永·塞姆埃松(Guðjón Samúelsson)设计；首都雷克雅未克的哈尔格林姆斯大教堂(Hallgrímskirkja)即出自古德永之手。

冰岛南岸的杰古沙龙冰河湖(Jökulsárlón)是冰岛最著名的冰泻湖，位于冰岛一号环岛公路沿途，处于斯卡夫塔山自然保护区(Skaftafell)和霍芬镇(Höfn)之间，是冰岛旅行最热门的必游自然景点之一。

地理

杰古沙龙冰河湖由Breiðamerkurjökull冰舌的冰川融水滋养，而这条冰舌则发源自欧洲最大冰川——瓦特纳冰原(Vatnajökull)。

一年四季无分昼夜，冰湖内始终漂浮着许多巨型冰块，其中的一些甚至与楼房等高。

浮冰的巨型体积引人瞩目，而纯白与冰蓝混合的冰块颜色、掺杂火山灰的冰块纹理。也都令造访冰河湖的游人颇感震撼。

浮冰跟随水流渐渐漂流入海，进入广袤的大西洋，而有些冰块则会被冲刷到Breiðamerkursandur黑沙滩上；这片聚集了无数如钻石般闪耀的碎冰的沙滩，也因此被冠上了“钻石冰沙滩”的名号。

虽然杰古沙龙冰河湖只是近代才出现的自然景观，如今却已经成为冰岛最深的湖泊。目前杰古沙龙冰河湖深约248米，面积约为18平方公里。随着冰川不断消融退却，在不久的将来，杰古沙龙冰河湖也会逐步演变成冰岛最大的湖泊。

历史

杰古沙龙冰河湖并非自移民定居时代就一直存在的自然景观，而是在1935年才开始慢慢形成的。自20世纪以来，冰岛的平均气温逐年升高。1920年，Breiðamerkurjökull冰舌开始迅速融化退却，其融水也逐步填满了冰川脚下的大片空地，形成了一片冰河湖。

杰古沙龙冰河湖的面积仍在持续扩张，现在的面积已经比1975年扩大了两倍以上。随着扩张持续，杰古沙龙冰河湖最终会变为峡湾。

冰岛冰川的消融一直都是严峻的自然灾难，但无意中形成的冰河湖也称得上是一个短暂的“美丽错误”。

世界各地的电影导演早已发现了杰古沙龙冰河湖的绝世之美。詹姆士·邦德系列电影《007之雷霆杀机》(1985年)、《择日而亡》(2002年)、《蝙蝠侠：侠影之谜》(2005年)等电影大片都曾在此取景拍摄，将冰河湖之美搬上了大荧幕。

2017年，杰古沙龙冰河湖正式被纳入冰岛瓦特纳冰川国家公园，成为受冰岛法律保护的自然景点。

野生生态

潮汐为杰古沙龙冰河湖带来了众多的鲱鱼和毛鳞鱼，也因此吸引了许多野生动物来此安家，聚居觅食。

夏季时，许多北极燕鸥会在此筑巢繁衍。北极燕鸥是攻击力极强的鸟类，它们会奋不顾身地攻击接近其鸟蛋的生物。如果在夏天到访冰河湖，一定不要走近北极燕鸥的巢穴，以防被攻击。此外贼鸥也会在此筑巢孵蛋、繁衍后代。

野生海豹则一年四季都以冰河湖为家。无论任何季节到访杰古沙龙冰河湖，游人都有机会看到海豹们在巨型浮冰之间戏水嬉闹、慵懒躺卧的可爱景象。杰古沙龙冰河湖不但为海豹们提供了丰富的食物，也成为了它们避开冰岛东南部海域的虎鲸的避风港。

Hvíta is a glacier river in Arnessysla in South Iceland. It is one of the most popular rivers in Iceland for rafting, salmon fishing, and it is home to Iceland's most famous waterfall.

Gullfoss Waterfall

The river has its source in Hvítarvatn, by the roots of Langjökull. Many tributaries join it as it travels towards the ocean, making Gullfoss waterfall, which lays on its course, mightily powerful.

At 32 metres (105 feet) tall, it falls in two steps into a magnificent canyon. There are several viewing platforms around it, and a café and visitors centre a short distance away.

It can be seen in all seasons, with rainbows flying from its mists in summer and ice cladding the rocks around it in winter.

Rafting in Hvíta

Downstream from Gullfoss is the part of Hvíta that is most popular for kayaking, canoeing and rafting. To participate in rafting tours here, no experience is needed.

These tours are not only exhilarating but expose guests to beautiful nature and geology.

位处冰岛北部的米湖(Mývatn)是冰岛第四大湖泊，湖中散布着众多小岛。米湖及其周边地区以旖旎的自然风光、活跃的鸟类生活与活跃的火山地热活动而闻名遐迩，是冰岛旅行不容错过的经典景区之一。

地质奇妙、风景如画的米湖还曾在诸多热门影视剧作中现身。《权力的游戏(冰与火之歌)》的北境就曾于此取景。

米湖地质

米湖位处地热区，紧邻火山区，活跃的地热火山活动在这里塑造出奇妙的地质景观。著名的克拉夫拉火山(Krafla)就位于米湖旁，而Víti“地狱”火山口即居于火山中。

米湖中的小岛仿佛由天外飞星陨石撞击而成，实际上则是名为的“破火山口”或“假火山口”的地质奇观。滚热的岩浆流经水体，导致蒸汽爆炸，火山碎屑虽沉积为火山口的形状，但这些凹陷却不与任何岩浆房连通，故名“假火山口”。许多造型奇诡的玄武岩柱也从米湖地表突兀竖起，这些石柱则形成于岩浆的骤然冷却。

米湖地下涌动的地热力量也塑造出了冰岛常见的地热温泉。在米湖天然温泉，游客能够以实惠的价格体验富含矿物质的温润泉水，感受“冰岛北部蓝湖”的魅力。

米湖野生动物

虽然没有憨态可掬的海鹦，米湖仍是冰岛的最佳观鸟地点之一。喜欢海鹦的游客可以在每年夏季，即5～9月期间来冰岛旅行，在西峡湾的拉特拉尔角(Látrabjarg)、冰岛南岸的迪霍拉里岬角(Dyrhólaey)寻找这些小生物的踪迹。

米湖是世界上的最佳观鸭地点，这里生活着13余种鸭子，还有许多品种每年来此栖居。最常见的鸭种是可爱的白脸晨凫。

米湖地区植被茂盛、食物充足，因此也有多种鼠类栖居于此，而冰岛唯一的野生动物北极狐就以鼠为食。

米湖最珍奇的植被则要属球藻，也称海藻球(marimo)。这些毛茸茸、绿油油的可爱球形藻十分罕见，仅在日本、苏格兰、爱沙尼亚、澳大利亚与冰岛有所分布。

米湖周围景点

米湖本身的景色令人流连，米湖地区也集聚了众多自然胜景。黑暗城堡(Dimmuborgir)熔岩群形成于火山运动，黝黑的熔岩造型诡异骇人，神秘而暗黑的氛围油然而生。传说黑暗城堡就是冰岛十三个圣诞老人的住所。

黑暗城堡也是《权力的游戏》的取景地，另一处取景地则是Grjótagjá温泉洞，也即剧中雪诺和耶哥蕊特的定情之地。温泉的温度起伏不定，如今已经封闭，游客只能在洞穴外观赏。

Skútustadagígar假火山口与Víti火山口定会令您大开眼界，克拉夫拉火山附近以及Námaskarð地热区的蒸汽孔与地热喷泉也尽显地心深处的澎湃力量。

米湖位于一号环岛公路沿线，与“冰岛北部首都”阿克雷里(Akureyri)之间交通便利。米湖以东的黛提瀑布则是欧洲最汹涌、最高、水能最丰富的瀑布，也曾在《普罗米修斯》等电影中现身。阿斯匹吉峡谷(Ásbyrgi)则牵引出另一段奇妙的北欧传说；这座马蹄形的峡谷传说就是由众神之首奥丁的八蹄神马踩出的一道足迹。

Dimmuborgir, or the Black Fortress, is a dramatic expanse of lava in the Lake Mývatn area. Steeped with folklore, it is one of the most popular destinations for travellers to north Iceland.

Geology of Dimmuborgir

Dimmuborgir was formed in an eruption that occurred in the area 2,300 years ago; the Lake Mývatn area is highly volcanic, as can be further seen in nearby locations such as the geothermal Námaskarð Pass, the hot spring cave Grjótagjá, and the dramatic Krafla fissure.

As lava flowed across the area, it passed over a lake, causing it to boil. This both quickened the cooling of the lava and caused pillars of steam to shatter parts of it. After it solidified, Dimmuborgir area became defined by large stacks of rock and many caves and caverns, caused by bubbles of intense steam.

As such, many have compared Dimmuborgir to a medieval castle, with its many hidden chambers and its rising towers.

Folklore of Dimmuborgir

In Icelandic culture, lava caves are allegedly the homes of the nation’s brutal and vile trolls. The most famous of these were the half-troll, half-ogre Grýla and her submissive husband Leppalúði. Grýla was renowned for her insatiable appetite for children, and her gigantic pet cat, that would eat children over the Christmas period for not getting any clothes (encouraging kids to finish their weaving, knitting and sewing chores before the season set in).

Grýla and Leppalúði had thirteen sons who lived in Dimmuborgir and are now known as the ‘Icelandic Santa Clauses’ or Yule Lads. On the thirteen nights before Christmas, these trolls come one by one to terrorise Icelanders, each with their own strategy after which they were named.

Sheep-Colt Clod, for example, would harass livestock; Skyr-Gobbler would steal and lick the house's supplies of yoghurt-like skyr; and Window-Peeper would stare into houses, looking for things to burgle.

Like most frightening Icelandic stories, the Yule Lads were most likely created to keep children from going out into the cold Icelandic winter nights, where many disappeared without a trace for centuries. As the nation modernised, they became mischievous tricksters rather than devilish monsters. Now, they have been ‘Americanised’; rather than traditional Icelandic garb, they wear Santa costumes, and although they still steal skyr, they now also bring gifts.

Due to Iceland’s remoteness and fondness for storytelling, the nation developed many unusual Christmas traditions.

During the Christianisation of Iceland, Dimmuborgir developed a new set of tales. Many began to believe, due to its starkness, that it was where Satan landed when cast from heaven, and where he created the catacombs to hell.

Dimmuborgir in pop culture

Dimmuborgir recently saw a surge in popularity, as it was featured on HBO’s Game of Thrones. In the series, it is where Mance Raider held his wildling army. It was shot here in winter.

The popular Norwegian black metal band Dimmu Borgir is also named after the area. 

Húsavík, by Skjálfandi Bay in North Iceland, is a town of just over two thousand people. It is considered to be one of the best places in Europe for whale watching in the summer.

Whale Watching in Husavik

Húsavík is often nicknamed the whale watching capital of Europe, due to the fact that throughout the vast majority of summers, tour operators have 100% sighting rates.

Humpback Whales are the most common species in Skjálfandi Bay. These gentle giants are renowned for being possibly the most entertaining of the great whales to observe, due to the fact they always show their tail before a dive, and exhibit many other behaviours at the surface, such as breaching and fin slapping.

Other animals that reside within the bay include White Beaked Dolphins and Harbour Porpoises. It is not at all unheard of, however, for Fin and Blue Whales to be seen, nor Orcas or Belugas.

Many whale watching tours also include a puffin-watching component.

Other Activities in Husavik

Húsavík is home to the Húsavíkurkirkja church, a beautiful wooden structure built in 1907 and the civic museum for culture and biology, which amongst other things features a stuffed polar bear and ancient boats, bearing witness to the history of seafaring in Iceland.

There is also an Exploration Museum on the spirit of discovery, from early explorations to space missions.

Near to Húsavík is the Lake Mývatn area, a place of diverse, natural beauty, with a wealth of geological features. It is also close to the capital of the North, Akureyri.

In Húsavík you'll also find cute cafés and restaurants offering tasty treats, and you'll have a gorgeous view over the Skjálfandi Bay. There is a wealth of accommodation options available, from nice hotels to cabins and hostels.

History of Husavik

Húsavík means ‘the Bay of Houses’, as according to legend, it was settled before the official ‘settlement date’ of 874 AD.

Garðar Svavarsson was a Swede who wintered in Iceland in 870 AD. According to legend and Sagas, he left a man called Náttfari and two slaves to tend a farm here. It is said that the town was named after their houses.

冰岛北部的众神瀑布(Goðafoss，又名神之瀑布)高12米、宽30米，坐落于冰岛第四大河流Skjálfandafljót之上，是最受游客欢迎的冰岛瀑布之一。

众神瀑布的历史

众神瀑布的冰岛语是Goðafoss，既可作“众神瀑布”解，也可作“goði瀑布”解(goði是冰岛古代的官名，意为“首领”)。其得名的原因与冰岛历史有着紧密的关联。

在移民定居年代(9世纪、10世纪)期间，绝大多数冰岛定居者(不包括奴隶在内)都来自挪威，信奉索尔(Thor)、奥丁(Odin)、洛基(Loki)、弗雷亚(Freya)等北欧神明。公元930年，冰岛建立议会、组建自由邦或称共和国后，信仰“异教”的冰岛与信仰基督教的欧洲大陆之间便产生了矛盾。

公元1000年，冰岛仍信仰北欧异教，挪威向冰岛施压。在辛格维利尔(Þingvellir)举行的议会上，冰岛首领们共商此事，将决定权委任给信仰异教(Ásatrú)的法律演讲人Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði。

相传他在桦树下坐了一天一夜，默默地向北欧的众神祈祷，让神明带领他做出正确的决定。最后，他表示为了人民的利益，冰岛将奉基督教为国教，但虔敬旧神的异教徒也可以私下保留信仰。

为宣布冰岛皈依基督教，Þorgeir回到冰岛北部的故乡，将北欧神像掷入一座美丽的瀑布，这座瀑布也因此得名“众神瀑布”。

如何前往众神瀑布

众神瀑布位于一号环岛公路沿线，是冰岛北部的热门旅游路线钻石圈中的一个景点。钻石圈还包括了米湖地区(Mývatn)、黛提瀑布(Dettifoss)、阿斯匹吉峡谷(Ásbyrgi)以及著名的观鲸小镇胡萨维克(Húsavík)。

米湖是一座美丽的湖泊，无数鸟类在此聚居。该地区以月球般的火山地质地貌与活跃的地热活动而闻名。黛提瀑布则是冰岛北部的另一座著名瀑布，比众神瀑布流速更快，也是整个欧洲最汹涌的瀑布。

阿斯匹吉峡谷同样和北欧神话颇有渊源。这座马蹄形的峡谷传说由众神之首奥丁的八足神驹踩踏而成。胡萨维克被誉为“欧洲观鲸之都”，是冰岛最佳观鲸地点之一，成功率高达99%。

众神瀑布与冰岛“北部首都”阿克雷里(Akureyri)之间约有45分钟车程。阿克雷里是冰岛首都大雷克雅未克地区之外人口最多的城市，也是自驾环岛游客的必经之地。城市内除了完备的超市、酒店、餐厅等基本设施外，还蕴藏了冰岛北部的独特文化，游客可以参观许多主题各异的博物馆与美术馆，以及世界上最靠近北极圈的植物园。不少冰岛北部旅行团也从阿克雷里出发。

众神瀑布一年四季都可以自驾造访，但在冬季期间，如果没有足够的雪地自驾经验，最好报名旅行团前往；即便对自驾技术与经验自信，也最好租用四驱车出游。

冰岛北部的黛提瀑布(Dettifoss)被誉为欧洲最高、最汹涌、水量最大的瀑布，是钻石圈景区的必游景点。

地理概况

黛提瀑布位于澎湃的菲约德勒姆冰河(Jökulsá á Fjöllum)之上，发源自欧洲最大冰川瓦特纳冰川(Vatnajökull)。瀑布宽100米、高45米，水声暴裂如雷鸣，平均每秒水量达193立方米，滚滚落入幽邃的Jökulsárgljúfur峡谷。

峡谷与瀑布位于冰岛最大国家公园——瓦特纳冰川国家公园的北部，均被列为自然保护区。菲约德勒姆冰河还滋养了另外两座壮观的瀑布：塞尔福斯瀑布(Selfoss)与Hafragilsfoss瀑布。

周围景点

黛提瀑布、西峡湾与斯奈山半岛都不在冰岛一号环岛公路上，但有两条路况复杂的公路连通主路与瀑布。前往黛提瀑布的最佳方式是驾驶四驱车或参加旅行团，但在冬季时，四驱车有时也无法驾驭崎岖的冰雪路况。

距离黛提瀑布最近的大型城镇是“冰岛北部首都”阿克雷里(Akureyri)。拥有超过一万居民的阿克雷里，是除首都大雷克雅未克地区外最大的城镇，也是环岛旅行者以及冰岛北部旅行者最常选择的住宿与中转地点。

胡萨维克(Húsavík)也是冰岛北部地区的一座广受游客欢迎的迷人小镇，更有着“欧洲观鲸之都”的美誉，夏季时观鲸成功率甚至可达100%。冰岛海域最常见的鲸鱼种类有座头鲸、小须鲸、白吻斑纹海豚、港湾鼠海豚等，更为珍奇的蓝鲸、长须鲸、塞鲸、剑刎鲸、领航鲸、白鲸、虎鲸也偶有现身。

钻石圈景区的另一处景点米湖地区(Mývatn)位于阿克雷里与黛提瀑布之间。米湖以活跃的鸟类、多样的植被与良好的生态而闻名；多种鸟类栖居于此，以鸭类为最。

米湖地区的地质风光也同样震撼。火山地热运动塑造了假火山口、玄武岩柱、黑暗城堡熔岩原群(Dimmuborgir)等奇诡的地质构造；传说黑暗城堡还是冰岛十三个圣诞老人的家园。

黑暗城堡与米湖都是大热美剧《权力的游戏》的取景地，黛提瀑布则在2012年的电影《普罗米修斯》中频频现身，瀑布本身的暗黑磅礴氛围与电影中的异世外星完美契合。

位于一号公路沿线的众神瀑布(Goðafoss)坐落于阿克雷里与米湖之间。众神瀑布虽然不及黛提瀑布恢弘，却独具秀美旖旎之处，也曾见证恢弘的冰岛历史。公元1000年，冰岛法律宣讲人宣布冰岛摒弃北欧众神旧教，转而皈依基督教，并将北欧神像掷入瀑布中——这便是“众神”一名的由来。

黛提瀑布以北是绝美的阿斯匹吉峡谷(Ásbyrgi)。这座马蹄形状的峡谷郁郁葱葱，传说是北欧众神之首奥丁的八蹄神兽的一个壮丽足印。

Snæfellsjökull is a glacier-capped volcano found on the tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in west Iceland. It stands in a National Park of the same name, one of the only three National Parks in the country.

It stands at 1,446 metres (4,744 feet) tall, and on clear days, is visible across the bay from Reykjavík. The stratovolcano beneath Snæfellsjökull is 700,000-year-old.

The mountain is actually called 'Snæfell' (Snowy Mountain), though the 'jökull' (Glacier) is often added to help distinguish it from other mountains of the same name.

For the first time in recorded history, Snæfellsjökull had no snow or ice at its peak in August 2012, causing concern amongst locals that climate change is threatening the nature of the mountain.

History

Snæfellsjökull has several small villages surrounding it, including Hellissandur, Rif and Ólafsvík, all of which were some of the busiest commercial and fishing hubs in the country for much of the last millennium.

Fishing took off primarily in the 13th-Century, with fishing stations being built in all areas with easy access to the open ocean. The Snæfellsnes Peninsula was a notable centre of this industry, due to the fertile waters within Breiðafjörður bay.

One notable example would be the settlement of Dritvík; in spite of its minuscule size today, it once utilised around forty to sixty boats and employed up to six hundred people.

Fishing in the region declined during the 19th century due to change in Iceland’s industry and fish stocks, though it is still an important source of livelihood for those living on the Peninsula.

The Snæfellsjökull National Park was established in 2001, and tourism is rapidly changing the trade of the area.

In Folklore

Snæfellsjökull has, for centuries, been considered to be one of the world’s ancient power sites, a source of mysticism, energy and mystery for the peninsula’s superstitious population.

The feature takes a prominent role in Bárðar saga Snæfellsáss, a late 14th-century saga that tells the story of  Bárður, half-human-half-troll, who became the 'guardian spirit of Snæfellsjökull'.

There are many rock formations on and around Snæfellsjökull that are said to be trolls petrified by sunlight, or else homes of the hidden people.

On November 5th, 1993, thousands of people came to Snæfellsjökull as some paranormal enthusiasts believed there would be an alien landing; CNN even showed up with a camera crew. Though the evening passed without a galactic invasion, the incident shows the strange significance of Snæfellsjökull to many.

In Literature

Snæfellsjökull serves as the entrance to a fantastical subterranean world in Jules Verne’s classic 1864 novel 'Journey to The Centre of The Earth.' Given its central place in the novel, Snæfellsjökull has become one of the most popular spots for visitors in Iceland and has inspired a wealth of writers, poets and artists.

Since 'Journey to The Centre of The Earth', Snæfellsjökull has appeared in the ‘Blind Birds’ trilogy by Czech science fiction writer Ludvík Souček (partially based on Jules’ work) and in ‘Under The Glacier’, a novel by Iceland’s only Nobel laureate, Halldór Laxness.

Nearby Attractions

Along with the glacier, attractions on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula include the two nearby basalt cliffs called Lóndrangar and the many fascinating lava formations at the beautiful Djúpalónssandur beach, such as the arch rock Gatklettur.

At Djúpalónssandur, one can also test their muscle as historic sailors once did with the four 'strength' stones, Amlóði ('Useless'), Hálfdrættingur ('Weakling'), Hálfsterkur ('Half Strength') and Fullsterkur ('Full Strength').  

In the area, one can also explore the Saxhóll volcano crater and 'the singing cave' Sönghellir, which is named after the loud echoes inside.

位于冰岛南岸的斯科加瀑布(Skógafoss)宽约25米，高约60米，是冰岛境内规模最大、最负盛名的瀑布之一。丰沛的瀑流激起无数水花，在阳光照射下常有彩虹高悬于瀑布之上，故也有“彩虹瀑布”的美誉。

发源自Skógá河的斯科加瀑布造型经典恢弘，在一号环岛公路上即可眺望到瀑布的壮丽景致，聆听到瀑布的隆隆水声。斯科加瀑流汇聚成溪，溪流中生活着大量北极红点鲑与三文鱼，夏季时常有人来此垂钓。

斯科加瀑布下的陆地十分平坦，游客可以直接行走到瀑布的宽阔水幕边，感受水花击面的快意；但游客需准备防水衣物，以防被瀑流打湿。游客也可以沿阶梯攀登至瀑布顶端，在开阔的观景平台上俯视冰岛南岸全景；阶梯陡峭，请游客量力而行。

斯科加瀑布周边景点

斯科加瀑布位于斯科加小镇(Skógar)旁，艾雅法拉冰川火山以南。游客可以在此游览几座小众博物馆。在斯科加民俗博物馆(Skógasafn)，游客可以参观古老的木屋与草顶房建筑，欣赏冰岛的传统手工艺作品。

斯科加博物馆还设有以“交通”为主题的展览馆，展示冰岛交通、通讯与科技的历史变迁；数百年间，从骑马到驾车，从书信到电子设备，冰岛以令人惊异的速度实现了现代化。

斯科加博物馆另设有咖啡厅与纪念品商店，斯科加小镇上则开设有酒店与餐厅。

冰岛著名的菲姆沃罗豪尔斯(Fimmvörðuháls)徒步路线就位于斯科加瀑布以东，这条22公里的徒步线路将带领游客沿斯科加河而行，穿梭于米尔达斯(Mýrdalsjökull)、艾雅法拉(Eyjafjallajökull)两座冰川之间，进入绝美的索斯莫克峡谷(Þórsmörk)。

斯科加瀑布的民间传说

斯科加博物馆中展出了一只金环。据民间传说记载，该地区最早的维京定居者之一Þrasi Þórólfsson曾拥有一只宝箱，金环原本就嵌于宝箱之上。公元900年，Þrasi预感大限将至，就将装满黄金的宝箱藏入斯科加瀑布后的洞穴中。

许多人都曾试图取出宝箱，而当人们抓住宝箱一侧的手环时，手环突然脱落，宝物便也永久地消失了。这只金环后被赠予当地教堂，成为教堂的门环。如今金环安静陈列在博物馆中，默默无语地诉说着千年以来的传说与历史。

塞里雅兰瀑布(Seljalandsfoss)位于冰岛南岸，坐落于冰岛一号环岛公路旁，高约60米，造型似“水帘洞”，可穿行至瀑布后方。

便利的交通与旖旎的风光使其成为了冰岛最著名、最多游客到访的瀑布之一。塞里雅兰瀑布也是摄影师镜头下的宠儿，在许多风景大片之中都可以找到它的身影。

地理位置与周边景点

塞里雅兰瀑布由冰川融水滋养，与塞里雅兰河(Seljalandsá)均发源于埃亚菲亚德拉冰盖(Eyjafjallajökull)；冰盖下掩埋的火山曾在2010年大爆发，造成了当时欧洲航空交通瘫痪。

塞里雅兰瀑布的水帘狭长，从高耸的古老海崖上飞流直下，而这处悬崖在古时曾是冰岛海岸线的所在地，随着时间推移与地质变迁，逐步演变成如今的形貌。

塞里雅兰瀑布最显著的特色就是水幕后面有一条可以步行的通道。在夏天，游人可以沿着这条步道走到瀑布的后方，隔着水幕欣赏冰岛南岸葱郁的夏色。冬季时，由于水幕后的洞穴上方经常悬挂着冰柱，岩石也全被冰雪覆盖。出于安全考虑，这条小径通常不会开放。

如果想穿越瀑布，游人要有被水气沾湿的心理准备。瀑布后方的岩石与小径也会因水气而变得湿滑，游览时请务必小心足下。

2001年，塞里雅兰瀑布的两侧安装了灯照，让游人在没有午夜阳光照耀的冬季也可以欣赏到瀑布的胜景。

在游览塞里雅兰瀑布过后，不要忘记也去旁边的秘密瀑布(Gljúfrabúi)一游。秘密瀑布隐藏在一面巨大的岩壁后，是独具冰岛特色的惊喜小众景点。

冰岛南岸的另一大瀑布斯科加瀑布(Skógafoss)也位于塞里雅兰瀑布不远处，也是游人们造访南岸必到的旅游景点。斯科加瀑布与塞里雅兰瀑布同高，虽不能像塞里雅兰瀑布一样绕行，瀑流却更宽阔，水力更磅礴，呈现出迥然不同的瀑布胜景。

设立游客中心的小风波

2017年，政府宣布准备在瀑布旁建设游客中心。根据设计，游客中心预计高7米，面积2000平方米，但这个想法遭到了这一地区土地所有人的极力反对，主要原因是游客中心的兴建会破坏瀑布的自然之美，也会对当地环境造成影响。

目前这个建筑项目仍被搁置，当地政府正在考虑减小建筑的规模，或者把建筑地点移到附近的Brekkuhorn农场。

塞里雅兰瀑布与流行文化

塞里雅兰瀑布曾出现在贾斯汀·比伯《I’ll Show You》的MV之中，但贾斯汀在音乐录影带中演示了许多破坏冰岛环境以及让自身陷入危险的不良行为，例如肆意践踏珍贵的苔藓、赤身走入杰古沙龙冰河湖等，大家到冰岛旅行时千万不要效仿。

塞里雅兰瀑布也曾被美国电视台真人秀《极速前进》(The Amazing Race)第六季设为挑战的第一站。

盖歇尔地热区(Geysir)是举世闻名的间歇泉喷发区，坐落于冰岛西南岸的Haukadalur山谷中。

辛格维利尔国家公园(Þingvellir)、黄金瀑布(Gullfoss)与盖歇尔地热区共同组成了冰岛最热门的黄金圈景区。

盖歇尔间歇泉地理特征

盖歇尔间歇泉的喷发强度曾为所有间歇泉之首，如今却鲜少喷发，而Haukadalur山谷中还分布着多座间歇泉，其中就包括最为活跃的史托克间歇泉(Strokkur)，以及规模更小的Smiður与Litli-Strokkur。

史托克间歇泉是世界最活跃的间歇泉之一，每隔5～10分钟就喷发一道沸腾的水柱，高达20～40米，场面颇为壮观。许多游客都会准备好相机，拍下史托克陡然喷发的壮丽一瞬。

盖歇尔间歇泉规模更大，但如今的喷发频率极低，间隔数年方能喷发一次；而盖歇尔常常是不喷则已，一喷惊人，水柱高度可达70余米。

盖歇尔间歇泉以北分布着许多蒸汽孔，散发的滚滚蒸汽在凉爽的冰岛空气中徐徐飘动，别是一番外星般的奇妙风光。蒸汽孔周围的土地则被硫磺等矿物漆染，大地呈现出斑斓的地热色彩交织。

山谷南部的Þykkuhverir沸泥潭则仿佛是童话故事中巫婆的大锅，如锅炉般一刻不停地冒泡。沸泥潭实际上也是蒸汽孔的一种，泥浆干涸后便成为普通蒸汽孔。

盖歇尔间歇泉周边小众景点

Kúalaug天然温泉与盖歇尔间歇泉相距2公里，温泉最多可容纳3～5人，水温在39～43°C之间。在体验温泉时，要格外注意保护该地的脆弱生态。温泉底部为土壤，因此水中混有些许泥浆；温泉底部生长有湿滑的水藻，游客需注意安全，以防跌倒。

Haukadalur山谷虽为地热区，但经过不断的植树造林，这里也生长起一片颇为茂盛的森林。Haukadalsskógur是冰岛南岸的最大森林之一，游客可以经由林中小径漫步，参观林中植被，以及为纪念林务员Gunnar Freysteinsson而修建的树木博物馆。

盖歇尔地热区的文化历史

自冰岛有人定居开始，Haukadalur山谷就一直有人居住，人们还曾在此修建教堂。冰岛11世纪的著名历史学家Ari Þorgilsson就成长于此；冰岛第一所牧师学校就建立于此。Haukadalskirkja教堂为木质教堂，其建筑风格可追溯至1842年，展现着冰岛工业化进程开始前的建筑风情。

Hotel Gullfoss酒店距盖歇尔地区约7公里；Hotel Geysir酒店则与景区仅一路之隔，景区设施齐全，设有咖啡厅以及纪念品商店。

黄金瀑布(Gullfoss)又译为居德瀑布、古佛斯瀑布，发源自冰岛西南部的Hvítá白河，是冰岛最壮丽、最著名的瀑布之一。

Hvítá白河发源自朗格冰川(Langjökull)；河流跌落32米，历经两级阶梯，最终汇入峡谷，塑造了黄金瀑布这座壮观的双层瀑布。黄金瀑布与辛格维利尔国家公园、盖歇尔间歇泉地热区共同组成了冰岛最受欢迎的旅行景区——黄金圈。

黄金瀑布分为两层，我们也可将其视为两座瀑布。第一层也即较短的一层瀑布高约11米，第二层瀑布高约21米。瀑布两侧的峡谷岩壁耸拔70余米，一线倾斜后又与开阔的Gullfossgljúfur峡谷相接。据地质学家推算，峡谷的形成历史可追溯至末次冰期的冰川洪流。

黄金瀑布夏季每秒钟的水量可达140立方米，冬季时的水量约为109立方米/秒。丰沛而湍急的水流使得瀑布气势磅礴，令每一位身临其境的游客颇感震撼。

黄金瀑布是冰岛黄金圈景区的三大景点之一，许多旅行团也从黄金瀑布集合出发，其中最受欢迎的要属在朗格冰川进行的雪地摩托与冰川隧道旅行团。

黄金瀑布的历史

正因蕴含了丰富的水能，黄金瀑布的磅礴风光才如此引人入胜。黄金瀑布的能量却也引起了外国投资者的兴趣。1907年，一位名为Howell的英国商人就曾设想在黄金瀑布建立水电站。Howell出价购买黄金瀑布，而当时黄金瀑布地段的所有者Tómas Tómasson严辞拒绝，说出了“我不会出卖我的朋友！”这句名言。于是Howell转而选择租用这片土地，以实现修建水电站的计划。

保卫瀑布的重任落在了Tómas的女儿Sigríður Tómasdóttir身上，她雇用了一位律师，努力以法律的方式捍卫瀑布的自然生态。Sigríður数次往返于官员所在的雷克雅未克与家乡黄金瀑布之间，几度徒步走过100公里的路程，与各方斡旋。为了阻止人们破坏瀑布，Sigríður甚至威胁跳入瀑布，以其生命誓死抵抗。

Sigríður的抗争终获成功。1929年，Howell撤回其租约，放弃了修建水电站的计划，黄金瀑布也得以保持其原始却美丽的自然生态。Sigríður也常被赞誉为冰岛第一位环境保护主义者，被载入冰岛史册。黄金瀑布旁的石碑上就记载了她的光辉事迹。Sigríður的律师Sveinn Björnsson也是冰岛历史中的重要人物：1944年冰岛建国后的首位总统。

黄金瀑布景区的餐饮

在黄金瀑布咖啡厅(Gullfoss Cafe)中，游客可以品尝冰岛特色美食；在黄金瀑布景区的商店中，游客也可以将冰岛特色旅行纪念品带回家。

埃亚菲亚德拉冰盖(Eyjafjallajökull)，也译作艾雅法拉冰川，是一座举世闻名的冰岛火山，2010年的火山大爆发曾一度阻断欧洲的航空交通。艾雅法拉冰川海拔1651米，是冰岛南岸的主要景点之一。

地理概况

艾雅法拉冰川的面积约为100平方公里，是冰岛的第六大冰川。冰岛第四大冰川米尔达斯冰川(Mýrdalsjökull)与其毗邻。与艾雅法拉冰盖一样，米尔达斯冰川下也掩藏了一座活跃的火山，名为卡特拉(Katla)。艾雅法拉火山的爆发震慑了世人，其实卡特拉火山内蕴藏的能量要远远超过艾雅法拉。

两座火山的岩浆房实则彼此连通，艾雅法拉火山的爆发也意味着，卡特拉火山亦将在本世纪内大规模爆发。

Gígjökull等多条分支冰川从艾雅法拉注出，许多河流也得到冰川融水的滋养，冰岛南岸塞里雅兰瀑布的水源就来自于艾雅法拉冰川。

艾雅法拉火山爆发

冰岛是一个火山之国。1783～1784年的拉基火山大爆发(Laki)在冰岛与世界历史上都记下了浓墨重彩的一笔，巨量火山灰从冰岛飘至欧洲大陆，甚至间接导致了法国大革命的爆发。2010年3月20日、4月15日，历史再次重演，艾雅法拉火山两度喷发，滚滚浓烟从火山口源源不断地涌出。

最危险的还不是火山岩浆，而是随之而来的能够摧毁一切的强劲冰川洪流。800人从该地区撤离，动物被挪至室内，有呼吸系统问题的居民也必须留在室内。

欧洲的航空交通因火山爆发而全面阻滞，截止4月15日晚，火山灰已抵达英国、斯堪的纳维亚与德国部分地区。欧洲旅客们的行程也被滞留了8天之久，在苏格兰与爱尔兰地区，部分航班甚至被推迟了一月之久。

火山爆发中并无人员伤亡，但冰岛南部居民的呼吸系统却受到了不同程度的影响，许多农场也被火山灰与冰川洪流摧毁。

自公元874年冰岛有人定居以来，艾雅法拉火山曾爆发了4次，分别在公元920年、1612年、1821～1823年以及2010年。19世纪的火山爆发中逸出了大量氟化物，深刻影响了当时的冰岛人与冰岛动物的骨骼构造。

今朝的艾雅法拉火山

如今冰岛南岸已经重归平静，艾雅法拉也成为了颇受欢迎的安全旅游景点。在Hvolsvöllur小镇，游客可以参观火山展览，了解Þorvaldseyri农场在火山爆发后的重建与新生。

冰岛的火山都被严密监控着，游客无需担心会在冰岛旅行时遭遇火山爆发的危险。近期内，艾雅法拉火山没有爆发的可能，但卡特拉冰川已在“蠢蠢欲动”。

辛格维利尔国家公园，又译辛格韦德利国家公园，是冰岛大陆上唯一被联合国教科文组织认证为世界文化遗产的地点。它和盖歇尔间歇泉、黄金瀑布，组成了著名的黄金圈旅游线路。公园南侧是冰岛最大的湖泊－辛格瓦德拉湖（Þingvallavatn）。

地理

辛格维利尔的地理地质特性在世界上独一无二。欧亚大陆板块与美洲大陆板块在此相会，且暴露在海平面之上。全世界只能在冰岛看到两大地质板块在海平面之上相会的地质奇观。

游览时，建议从美洲大陆板块一侧开始观光，在这里的信息牌上可以阅读到这个地区的更多有趣信息和历史，之后可以再走入其下的山谷。

历史

辛格维利尔在冰岛语中的意思为“议会土地”，从它的名字就不难猜出它的历史。在这里，世界上的第一个民主议会诞生－公园930年，维京人选址在此，创立了冰岛的议会。

民主议会也许和维京人喜欢战争掠杀的名声背道而驰，但当时的30多个氏族急需在恶劣的新环境中求得生存与繁荣。第一次集会的空前成功，让议会得以保留。每年，人们聚集在此，解决争端、审判罪犯、制定让所有人都能受益的法律。

冰岛联邦就此诞生，让冰岛人在成为挪威王国的选民前就获得了独立与自由。冰岛在辛格维利尔的年度议会一直延续到了1798年。

丹麦王国取消了冰岛的议会，直至1845年，冰岛的议会在雷克雅未克重生。

辛格维利尔在冰岛历史上的另一个重要角色与信仰有关，公园1000年，挪威入侵冰岛，冰岛人在辛格维利尔舍弃异教信仰、北欧众神，转而投信基督教。

冰岛的法律演讲人、议长Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði是冰岛的这场信仰危机中起到了决定性的作用，他考虑了一天一夜，才回到这里宣布了他的决定。

为了见证冰岛信仰的转变，Þorgeir将北欧众神的神像抛入北部的众神瀑布－Goðafoss，瀑布正得名于此。

丝浮拉裂缝

辛格维利尔是冰岛最受欢迎的自然景点之一，而除了上述的自然、历史原因，它还有另一大独特的景观－丝浮拉裂缝（Silfra，又译史费拉裂缝）。丝浮拉裂缝流淌着冰川水，是世界上排名前十的浮潜、潜水地。

丝浮拉在冰岛语中意为“银”，是公园内的一个水下峡谷，能见度高达100余米，温度常年保持在零上。世界各地的人们在这里穿上潜水衣，去水下享受完美的失重感，以及遨游在两大地质板块间的难得体验。

Hraunfossar(熔岩瀑布) ('Lava Falls' in English) in Borgarfjörður district is a series of beautiful waterfalls formed by rivulets streaming out of the Hallmundarhraun lava field. It is located in West Iceland near another waterfall called Barnafoss.

Geography and Surroundings of Hraunfossar

The lava field that Hraunfossar trickles through flowed from an eruption of one of the volcanoes lying under the nearby glacier of Langjökull, the second largest ice-cap in Iceland. The waterfalls pour into the Hvítá river from ledges of less porous rock in the lava.

The Hvítá river is one of the most popular rivers amongst visitors for two reasons. Firstly, it is the most easily accessible rafting river from Reykjavík, with rapids that are manageable even for total novices. Secondly, it is the river that hosts the mighty waterfall Gullfoss, one of the three sites of the popular the Golden Circle route.

Because the area around Hraunfossar used to be the site of constant eruptions, the lava fields are known for their hidden caves. The country's longest cave, Víðgelmir, can be found near the waterfall. This amazing feature is 1,595 metres long (5,200 feet), up to 15.8 metres high (52 feet) and 16.5 metres wide (54 feet).

Its geological history may be fascinating, being just a thousand years old, though its human history stirs just as much intrigue as the lava field was once home to bandits and, according to folklore it is the home of trolls.

Another major site near Hraunfossar is an incredibly short walk away, and though also a waterfall, could not be more different. Barnafoss surges down a narrow, rocky valley with ferocious power, foaming and churning quite spectacularly. According to legend, however, the force of these rapids led to tragedy.

It was said that an old stone bridge once went over the falls, and two boys at a nearby farm, bored at home, attempted to cross it to catch up with their parents at church. However, they felt dizzy due to its height, fell, and drowned.

The legend ends in two different ways, with the least interesting saying the mother in grief simply ordered the bridge destroyed. Other tales say that she cursed the bridge using an Icelandic rune so that any who crossed would meet the same fate as her sons.

In this version, the bridge and curse were later broken by an earthquake.

The story led the waterfall its name; it translates to ‘Children’s Falls’.

Settlements near Hraunfossar

The nearest settlement of significance to Hraunfossar is Reykholt.

This tiny village has a huge history, being home to the legendary writer, chieftain, lawspeaker and poet Snorri Sturluson. Without Snorri, huge amounts of Icelandic, Nordic and even British history would be unknown.

He alone at the time catalogued a history of Norwegian kings and their relations with other monarchs through the work Heimskringla, as well as the Norse mythological beliefs through Prose Edda. It is also believed that Snorri first wrote many of the sagas still read today.

Reykholt has a centre dedicated to Snorri called Snorrastofa, which discusses his fascinating life as much as his works. Working during the times of Iceland’s tumultuous civil war as a chieftain, lawspeaker and spokesman of the Norwegian king, who had ambitions to take the country, it is a story with as much politics, betrayal, blood and sexual impropriety as Game of Thrones.

Hraunfossar is also reasonably close to Borganes, another town with a long history. Here, visitors can see the Settlement Centre with its two exhibitions on Iceland’s past, one is on the first people to reach this island over a thousand years ago, and the other is on Iceland’s most famous saga, Egil’s Saga.

Deildartunguhver is a hot spring located in Reykholtsdalur, a district of west Iceland. Deildartunguhver is the highest flowing hot spring in Europe and is widely known for its rapid flow rate of 180 litres (380 pints) per second.

Geothermal activity at Deildartunguhver

Reykholtsdalur is one of Iceland’s most popular places to see hot springs, along with the Geysir Geothermal Area, the Highlands, the Reykjanes Peninsula, Reykjadalur Valley and Námaskarð Pass. While each of these areas have their appeal, at no other does the water rise with such ferocity.

The water at Deildartunguhver hot spring emerges at a constant 97 degrees Celsius (207 degrees Fahrenheit), making it incredibly dangerous for those who venture too close. Thankfully, there are a number of wooden walkways and observation points that lead you around the hot springs without putting you at any risk.

Due to the sheer energy bubbling under Deildartunguhver, much of the water is used for heating Icelandic homes. One pipe travels 34 kilometres (21 miles) to Borgarnes, whilst another travels 64 kilometres (40 miles) to Akranes.

This means that if you’ve taken a shower or bath within a 64-kilometre radius of Deildartunguhver, you will have touched the water from the hot spring.

All Icelandic hot water comes from hot springs such as this, except in some parts of the Westfjords which are now geologically much older than the rest of the country, and thus less active.

This is a fantastic example of how Icelanders efficiently use the geothermal energy provided and is one of the major reasons as to why Iceland has such an excellent reputation for green energy.

Points of Interest at Deildartunguhver

Whilst in the area, many visitors choose to make a stop at Krauma Geothermal Bath & Spa, a fantastic and relaxing complex that makes for a cheaper, more isolated alternative to the Blue Lagoon.

Visitors to Kraua will experience the hot water of Deildartunguhver blended perfectly with glacial water from Iceland’s smallest ice cap, Ok (which rhymes with ‘talk’), creating the perfect bathing temperature.

Krauma has a total of six pools, a relaxation room and two steam baths.

Visitors to Deildartunguhver with an interest in botany will also be able to check out the Blechnum Spicant, aka; “deer fern”, a type of plant that grows nowhere else in Iceland.

Surroundings of Deildartunguhver

Deildartunguhver is located in west Iceland. The two most notable points of interest nearby are two waterfalls, Hraunfossar and Barnafoss.

Hraunfossar, or the ‘Lava Falls’, is, in fact, a series of tiny cascades that trickle through an old lava field. Barnafoss, or ‘the Children’s Falls’, is a more powerful rapid, steeped in a dark legend.

Deildartunghver is also near Víðgelmir, the longest lava cave in the country, trailing for 1,595 metres (5,200 feet) beneath the surface of the earth.

The most significant settlement near Deildartunghver is Reykholt, a beautiful village with a fascinating history. This settlement was once home to Snorri Sturluson, a historian, writer, chieftain and poet without whom we would know very little of the Nordic mythology, folklore and history at the time.

His works, and life--full of politics, betrayal, affairs and war--can be learnt about in the town at the Snorrastofa Centre.

Strokkur is Iceland’s most visited active geyser. One of the three major attractions on the world-famous Golden Circle sightseeing route, it is usually visited alongside Gullfoss Waterfall and Þingvellir National Park.

Strokkur is found in the Geysir Geothermal Area, titled after the Great Geysir, which lent its name to all others across the world. It is the greatest active geyser on site; Geysir itself is in a period of inactivity. Strokkur erupts more regularly than Geysir ever did, blasting water to heights of around fifteen to twenty metres every five to ten minutes, although it is known to reach up to forty metres. 

Strokkur and Haukadalur Valley

Strokkur is the primary feature of the Haukadalur valley and the main reason why it is one of the most visited sites in the country. While Geysir will very occasionally still erupt to enormous heights, it is nowhere near reliable enough to justify the area’s popularity.

Haukadalur valley, however, has many other features that make it worth a visit. The natural beauty of the area is shaped by the forces of the earth; fumaroles, hot-springs, mud-pits and other little geysers are littered around, and the ground itself is dyed vividly by elements such as sulfur (yellow), copper (green) and iron (red).

Opposite the main geothermal area in Haukadalur Valley is a restaurant, cafe, hotel and luxury gift shop.

Science behind Strokkur

Active geysers like Strokkur are rare around the world, due to the fact that many conditions must be met for them to form. They are thus only found in certain parts of highly geothermal areas.

The first condition that is necessary is an intense heat source; magma must be close enough to the surface of the earth for the rocks to be hot enough to boil water. Considering that Iceland is located on top of the rift valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, this condition is met throughout most of the county.

Secondly, you will need a source of flowing underground water. In the case of Strokkur, this comes from the second largest glacier in the country, Langjökull. Meltwater from the glacier sinks into the surrounding porous lava rock, and travels underground in all directions.

Evidence of this flowing water can be found in Þingvellir National Park, where there are many freshwater springs flowing straight from the earth.

Finally, you need a complex plumbing system that allows a geyser to erupt, rather than just steam from the ground like a fumarole. Above the intense heat source, there must be space for the flowing water to gather like a reservoir. From this basin, there must be a vent to the surface. This vent must be lined with silica so that the boiling, rising water cannot escape before the eruption.

Environmental Issues with Strokkur

One of the main reasons that Geysir entered a period of inactivity was due to the fact soap used to be pumped into the vents to make the eruptions more dramatic; it damaged the structure of the vent and prevented water building up. Strokkur, therefore, is guarded against all interference, with chains keeping visitors a good distance away.

Unfortunately, however, there have been incidents where people have meddled with its natural state. For example, an artist called Marco Evaristti once poured food colouring into it to make the eruption pink. He defended himself by claiming that nature was open to artists to utiltise and the fact the colouring was all-natural, but he became a pariah amongst many Icelanders, and was arrested and fined (though never paid it).

斯奈山半岛(Snæfellsnes)位于冰岛西部，集聚了几乎所有最具特色的冰岛地貌，因此也有“冰岛缩影”之称。

冰岛三大国家公园之一斯奈菲尔冰川国家公园(Snæfellsjökull)即坐落于半岛之上。公园环绕巨型冰川火山而建，秀丽的瀑布、巍峨的山峰、嶙峋的熔岩、宁静的海滩、可爱的渔村小镇点缀着半岛绵长的海岸线。这里还流传着许多奇诡的传说故事，在冰岛人之间代代相传。

在天气格外晴朗的日子，从冰岛首都雷克雅未克的海边也可以遥看到斯奈山半岛的身影。如果将在冰岛逗留超过一个整天，不妨到斯奈山半岛一游。

斯奈山半岛的自然景点

斯奈山半岛地处雷克雅内斯半岛(Reykjanes)和西峡湾之间，曲折的海岸线绵延90公里。一道山脉系统贯穿半岛，其中包括或活跃或休眠的火山，最著名则是被冰盖覆盖的斯奈菲尔冰川火山。

自斯奈山半岛南端开始游览，您将首先来到Eldborg火山口。游人可以攀上火山口的顶端，俯瞰周遭美景。继续向前，您将到达六棱玄武岩石壁Gerðuberg，领略鬼斧神工的火山地质。沿着海岸线前行，下一站是Ytri-Tunga海豹沙滩，憨态可掬的野生海豹常在海滩上悠然自得地晒太阳。

Rauðfeldsgjá峡谷格外迷人，游人可以沿着峡谷前方的小道，踏溪逆流而上，进入峡谷内观赏另一番洞天。造访这个景点需要一定的体力，也不要忘了穿上结实的登山鞋。

Londrangar海蚀柱于大西洋惊涛中傲然矗立，这片海滩亦有“怪物海岸”之称。嶙峋的火山岩柱成为了许多海鸟的巢穴所在，也使海滩成为了冰岛的观鸟胜地。

进入斯奈菲尔冰川国家公园，您将邂逅更多地质胜景。这是冰岛三大国家公园中面积最小的一座，却是唯一一座与海洋相连的公园，蕴藏着无数自然宝藏。

Djúpalónssandur黑沙滩是一片开阔的卵石海滩。古时冰岛渔民用来测试力气的“举重石”仍然置于海滩上，只有可以成功举起石头的人才有资格成为正式的渔民。

国家公园内还有两个可以在夏季参团造访的火山岩洞：以绝妙回音而闻名的“回音洞”(Sönghellir)以及色彩斑斓、容易到达的瓦汀舍利尔熔岩洞穴(Vatnshellir)。

矗立于半岛中央的斯奈菲尔冰川无疑是半岛上的明星景点。即使不打算参加旅行团亲自登上冰川徒步，在游览半岛时也不能错过这处景点。法国作家儒勒·凡尔纳的科幻名著《地心探险记》中，通往地球中心的入口就位于斯奈菲尔冰川。冰岛诺贝尔文学奖得奖者哈尔多尔·拉克斯内斯(Halldór Laxness)的《冰川下的基督》的故事背景。

Berserkjahraun熔岩原坐落于斯奈山半岛北部的Bjarnarhöfn小镇旁，这里曾发生过骇人听闻的杀人案件，更被当地人视为“闹鬼”的地区。斯奈山半岛最受欢迎的景点则非教会山(草帽山，Kirkjufell)莫属。教会山是冰岛最著名的摄影取景地之一，还曾在人气美剧《权力的游戏(冰与火之歌)》中现身。

斯奈山冰岛的小镇

斯奈山半岛上散布着许多美丽安详的渔村小镇，主要集中在捕鱼更为方便的半岛北部地区。其中最著名的小镇有阿尔纳斯塔皮(Arnarstapi)、海勒那尔(Hellnar)、 布迪尔(Búðir)、海德利桑德镇(Hellissandur)、欧拉斯维克(Ólafsvík)、 格伦达菲厄泽(Grundarfjörður)和斯蒂基斯霍尔米(Stykkishólmur)等。

斯蒂基斯霍尔米小镇是半岛上的较大城镇之一，许多游客会预定小镇上的酒店。小镇上有灯塔、教堂、火山博物馆等匠心独运的地标景点，游客还可以从港口乘船出发，穿越布雷扎湾(Breiðafjörður)直接抵达西峡湾地区，沿途还会经过避世胜地弗拉泰岛(Flatey)。

如果对博物馆与历史文化感兴趣，海德利桑德小镇的“海事博物馆”、欧拉斯维克小镇的“地区博物馆”以及可以品尝到冰岛传统“美食”臭鲨鱼的Bjarnarhöfn小镇鲨鱼博物馆，都值得您一游。

索尔黑马冰川(Sólheimajökull)是冰岛南岸米尔达斯冰川(Mýrdalsjökull)的一条分支，距离雷克雅未克仅有158公里，是距离首都最近的冰川之一。

由于距离雷克雅未克较近、便于抵达，索尔黑马冰川是冰岛最热门的冰川徒步地点之一。另一处最受游客欢迎的冰川徒步体验地是东南岸的斯维纳山冰川(Svínafellsjökull)。

索尔黑马冰川地理概况

索尔黑马冰川面积广阔，长约8公里、宽约2公里。作为米尔达斯冰川的一支冰舌，索尔黑马冰川和米达冰川之间没有明确的分界，甚至看起来面积更大一些。

米尔达斯冰川是冰岛第四大冰川，索尔黑马并非其唯一一条分支冰舌。磅礴无垠的冰盖下实则隐藏了冰岛最活跃的火山之一：卡特拉火山(Katla)。

同样位于该地区的艾雅法拉冰川火山(Eyjafjallajökull)曾经在2010年大爆发，使欧洲航空交通一度瘫痪；根据以往经验，在艾雅法拉火山爆发后，卡特拉火山通常也会随之而爆发，然而目前为止卡特拉仍未有爆发迹象。

您无需担心在游览冰川时会遭遇火山爆发。冰岛有着完备的火山检测系统，如有迹象，政府会及时通知旅行团营运商与附近居民。只要您报名的冰川或火山旅行团仍然正常出发，就说明火山仍处于安全的状态；您甚至可以参加旅行团，进入冰川或火山的内部一探究竟。

让人惋惜的是，索尔黑马冰川的面积正在逐年锐减，冰川脚下的冰河湖也因冰川的快速融化而迅速扩大。冰湖每年都会扩展大约一个标准奥运泳池的面积。预计在未来的100年之内，索尔黑马冰川将完全消失。

全球变暖已经是无可逆转的现实。如果您有幸在索尔黑马冰川消失之前到访，请好好珍惜它日渐消逝的美丽。

索尔黑马冰川成为冰岛必游景点的原因有三：首先，冰川位于冰岛一号环岛公路沿线，易于到达，无论是顺时针还是逆时针环岛都会经过冰川。其次，冰川周围没有高耸的山脉，登顶后可以一览无余地领略冰岛南岸绝色全景。再次，冰川上有许多高耸的冰墙，十分适合进行攀冰活动，满足户外运动爱好者的挑战欲。

索尔黑马冰川上还有冰缝、冰裂、冰窟等特色冰川地貌，如果足够幸运的话，甚至还可以发现天然冰洞。与火山灰交杂的冰壁将呈现出黑、白、蓝相间的奇妙颜色，让人产生登上外星球的奇幻错觉。

索尔黑马冰川下还有一条冰川融水汇集成的河流：Jökulsá á Sólheimasandi。从冰川脚下一路缓缓而流，途径索尔黑马黑沙滩(Sólheimasandur)，冰川河最终汇入海洋。

索尔黑马冰川旅行团

不少从雷克雅未克出发的冰岛南岸一日游都会包含索尔黑马冰川游览或者冰川徒步项目，也有许多以索尔黑马冰川徒步为主题的一日游，一天之内即可在首都和索尔黑马冰川之间往返。

如果参加冰岛南岸一日游到访索尔黑马冰川，旅行团通常还会沿途造访斯科加瀑布(Skógafoss)、塞里雅兰瀑布(Seljalandsfoss)、雷尼斯黑沙滩(Reynisfjara)等景点，时常更长的一日游还会抵达瓦特纳冰川国家公园(Vatnajökull)和杰古沙龙冰河湖(Jökulsárlón)。

想要登上冰川徒步，必须跟随专业向导。冰川向导受过专业训练，对冰川地貌更加了解，能够保证游客的旅行安全。旅行团运营商还会为游客准备必需的安全装备：冰爪、冰镐、头盔等，参加者需要自行准备保暖防风的衣物和结实的登山鞋。

在正式开始冰川徒步前，向导将介绍安全装备的使用方法，讲解冰川上的安全须知。准备参加冰川徒步的游客最好懂英文，能够听懂向导的安全讲解，或者有同行翻译陪伴。出于安全考量，旅行团向导有权利拒绝不理解安全须知的游客参团。

Hallmundarhraun is a lava field of the pahoehoe type (i.e. smooth unbroken basaltic lava with a smooth, billowy, undulating, or ropy surface) located slightly west of Langjokull glacier.

Hallmundarhraun belongs to Borgarfjordur district but lies on the fringes of the Highlands and West Iceland. The lava formed around the 10th century and flowed from craters near Langjokull glacier. At its broadest its around 7 km and its total length is about 52 km. Several caves are found in the field and at its edge are the waterfalls Hraunfossar and Barnafoss. Iceland's longest lava cave, Surtshellir, is in this lava field.

举世闻名的雷尼斯黑沙滩(Reynisfjara)坐落于冰岛南岸，与冰岛最南城镇维克镇(Vík)毗邻。

玄武岩黑沙滩的异世之美为冰岛特有，一望无垠的雷尼斯黑沙滩绝对是其中最美丽的一座。大西洋的滚滚白浪与黝黑火山砂石形成了梦幻般的色彩对比，于波涛中屹立的巨型玄武岩柱与神秘的黑沙滩相映成趣。早在1991年，《国家地理》就将雷尼斯黑沙滩列为世界十大最值得游览的非热带沙滩之一。

距冰岛首都雷克雅未克约180公里的雷尼斯黑沙滩，也是冰岛南岸景区最热门的景点之一。

黑沙滩位于一号环岛公路沿线，路况良好、驾驶容易，距首都约有2.5小时车程，半日之内即可往返参观，也可与南岸其他景点组合。

黑沙滩的民间传说

游览雷尼斯黑沙滩时，耸拔于大西洋惊涛之中的雷尼斯岩柱(Reynisdrangar/雷尼斯德兰格)也同样夺人目光。

根据民间传说记载，这些巨型玄武岩柱是冰岛巨魔的遗骸；黎明破晓时，欲将帆船拖入海中的巨魔遭遇阳光，化为巨石。

另一则传说却道，一个男人的妻子被两只巨魔掳掠杀害，男人追至雷尼斯黑沙滩，封印住巨魔，为这段悲剧画下结尾。

雷尼斯黑沙滩与雷尼斯岩柱还曾在现代传奇中现身：《权力的游戏(冰与火之歌)》第七季就曾在此取景，以求展现绝境长城以北的凛冽风光。

雷尼斯岩柱如今是海鸟们的栖息家园，北极海鹦、暴风鹱、海鸽等鸟类每年都会来此筑巢，喜爱观鸟的游客一定要到访黑沙滩。

黑沙滩周边景点

雷尼斯黑沙滩位于冰岛南岸中段，与维克镇毗邻；如果游客沿一号环岛公路自驾南岸，黑沙滩一定是旅程中不容错过的必游自然景点。经过黑沙滩，游客可以继续东行，前往杰古沙龙冰河湖(Jökulsárlón)，或继续环岛旅行。

迪霍拉里海岬(Dyrhólaey)是另一处与雷尼斯黑沙滩紧邻的冰岛自然景点。迪霍拉里是冰岛观鸟的最佳地点之一，海鸟的数目与种类都让黑沙滩地区难以望其项背。每年5～8月，迪霍拉里也是冰岛观海鹦的最佳地点。

从首都雷克雅未克前往雷尼斯黑沙滩，游客将途径塞里雅兰瀑布(Seljalandsfoss)、斯科加瀑布(Skógafoss)、艾雅法拉冰川火山(Eyjafjallajökull)、米尔达斯冰川(Mýrdalsjökull)等自然景点；从黑沙滩继续前行，游客将进入瓦特纳冰川国家公园(Vatnajökull)，到访斯卡夫塔山自然保护区(Skaftafell)、冰河湖、钻石冰沙滩等闻名遐迩的自然胜景。

游览黑沙滩的潜在危险与注意事项

游览雷尼斯黑沙滩时，游客需务必注意自身安全，以防发生意外与危险。大西洋的波涛凶悍强劲，浪高且急，极易将靠近海浪的游客卷入寒冷的海中。

雷尼斯黑沙滩与南极洲一线贯通，中间没有任何陆块，海浪得以积聚数千公里的能量；无论天气是平和还是狂暴，黑沙滩海域时刻都会产生这种突如其来的大浪，将一切沙滩上的人与物恣意卷入海洋。

游客必须远离海浪，与海洋至少保持30公里的距离。

Bjarnarhofn is a farmstead on the Snaefellsnes peninsula. Many notable Icelanders lived here. Bjarnarhofn's church and shark museum are listed as the nr. 1 Snaefellsnes attractions by Lonely Planet travellers. Also don't miss the colourful Berserkjahraun lava field.

At the shark museum you can learn about the habits and biology of the Greenland shark and the seafarers who risked their lives hunting it. Try a bit of shark, best washed down with a nice portion of Brennivin.

Above Bjarnarhofn lies Bjarnarhafnarfjall, where seagulls are parricularly common and nearby is the rugged Berserkjahraun lava field, 'Berserk's lava'. It has all kinds of strange shapes, with beautiful colours, and stark contrasts in the rock and mosses. The area is steeped in history, featuring prominently in Eyrbyggja saga and Heidarviga saga.

Hellnar is an old fishing village on the westernmost part of the Snaefellsnes peninsula. It used to be one of the largest fishing stations of the peninsula, with the oldest written record of seafaring there from 1560.

History of Hellnar

Historically, the settlement was a hub of activity, with many trading and fishing vessels pulling in and out of the harbour daily. There were many farms around the area, and by 1703, 38 houses.

Though by modern international standards this was nothing, it was rather significant for Iceland at the time.

Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, however, Iceland began to develop and industrialise, and its fishing and trading industries began to move to Reyjavík, bringing with them many people.

Hellnar, therefore, rapidly lost its population and importance, like many other places in Iceland particularly on the Snӕfellsnes Peninsula. The change in the economy hit Hellnar particularly hard, however, considering it was increasingly neglected for the neighbouring village of Arnarstapi, which was favoured by the ruling Danish.

The settlement was abandoned but for a few farms and a few resilient locals, until tourism began to boom in Iceland. Now, it is a centre for visitors in the area, with many options for rural accommodation.

Hellnar hosts the guesthouse for Snӕfellsnes National Park, which has a very interesting exhibition about the economy of former times, and on the geology, flora and fauna of the park.

Sites near Hellnar

At the shores of Hellnar are spectacular rock formations; much of the Snӕfellsnes Peninsula is incredibly dramatic along its coast, due to the previous volcanism of the area and the waves shattering the brittle lava rock that makes up the land.

Most notable amongst these that can be reached on foot is a protruding cliff called Valasnös. It has tunnels into the cliff, and its colouration is affected by the time of the day, the movements of the sea, and the prevailing weather conditions.

Large colonies of birds nest in the area, although it should be noted that puffins do not.

Hellnar, located at the tip of the peninsula, is a convenient hub for those travelling in their own car, offering easy access to the incredible natural sites nearby. These include the Lóndrangar sea stacks, the mountain Kirkjufell, and the Ytri Tunga seal watching beach.

Like many other places on Snӕfellsnes, it is easy to see the beautiful glacial capped volcano Snӕfellsjökull from the village.

Arnarstapi is a village on the southern side of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, once a fishing hub and now a place for travellers to refuel before entering Snæfellsjökull National Park. The area has several old and charming houses with interesting stories to them and is renowned for its beautiful nature.

History of Arnarstapi

Records of settlements around Arnarstapi date back to the Bárðar saga Snæfellsáss, an ancient Icelandic Saga that tells of the half-human, half-ogre who once lived on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Since his death, he has been considered the area's guardian spirit.

The region was popular with settlers due to its natural harbour, meaning fishing in the rich herring grounds of the surrounding waters was easy. When Norway, and to a much greater extent when they took over, Denmark, were in control of Iceland, Arnarstapi grew increasingly as a trading port.

Denmark invested a lot of money into Arnarstapi throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries (for their own interests, unfortunately not those of the Icelanders). Many of the resulting buildings still stand today, being some of the oldest in the country, such as the Danish Prefect’s Residence, which was built in the 1770s.

In the industrial revolution, Arnarstapi’s population radically shrunk which was common in the countryside at this time. The vast majority of Iceland’s jobs were now centralised in Reykjavík, reducing opportunities for small-time fishermen and their businesses, and the town became little more than a hamlet as a result.

As Iceland’s infrastructure rapidly improved after independence in 1943, and more people abroad began to see the many wonders of this island as a travel destination; Arnarstapi, like many other settlements in the area, got a new lease on life.

Fishing and trade remain vital parts of the economy, but they now play second fiddle to tourism and services. The village has essential services for those travelling on the peninsula, a wide array of accommodation options, and tour companies operating from it.

Nature and Sites around Arnarstapi

The beach at Arnarstapi holds a particular attraction. It has an eroded circular stone arch, called Gatklettur, and here, the interplay of spectacular waves and the light of the sun create a fascinating spectacle. Large colonies of the arctic tern also nest in the area, and both these features make it very popular amongst photographers.

An old horse trail through the lava field Hellnahraun is highly popular for hiking, due to the impressiveness of the surrounding landscape.

Arnarstapi, however, should never be too long a stop on a tour of the peninsula. As lovely as it is, the natural attractions nearby simply warrant more time. The village, for example, sits on the cusp of Snæfellsjökull National Park, home to the Snæfellsjökull glacier and volcano, the beauty of which has inspired writers and artists for centuries.

This is one of only three National Parks in the country, but it is to the credit of the peninsula’s beauty that it is far from the only must-see destination around. Very close to Arnarstapi is the Lóndrangar basalt cliffs, huge towers of lava that from a distance look like a fortress.

Vatnshellir and Sönghellir and two nearby lava caves (the former of which can only be entered on a guided tour). There is also a beautiful cleft in a mountainside called Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge that it is possible to climb into.

Though a little further away, on the north of the peninsula, Kirkjufell mountain is also a wonderful site to behold.

Photo by Andrés Nieto Porras

Grjótagjá is a small lava cave located near lake Mývatn in north Iceland, famous for featuring a beautiful geothermal hot spring in its depths.

History of Grjótagjá

Grjótagjá’s known history begins in the early 18th Century, where it was known to be the home of outlaw Jón Markússon. Throughout Iceland’s history, their icy, jagged rocks, total darkness and reputation for trolls meant law-abiding folk avoided Iceland’s lava caves, making them the perfect spots for bandits who had been ostracised from Icelandic society by the parliament.

Little is known about Jón, but after his death, fears of his cave gave way to excitement at its potential. It was used by locals as a hot spring in the decades that followed until the 1970s, when Iceland’s unpredictable geothermal forces prevented them from doing so.

From 1975 to 1984, the Krafla volcanic system erupted nine times, resulting in (to say nothing of new expanses of lava, the creation of new caves and magma chambers and the release of toxic gases) the water’s caves to boil and make it unusable.

After 1984, the temperature has slowly cooled, but has been known to rapidly heat again; in the surrounding area, liquid rock is just two kilometres (just over a mile) under the surface of the earth, meaning it can be very unpredictable.

As such, bathing is no longer allowed in Grjótagjá. You are welcome, however, to at least feel the water and dip your feet in to relax.

The lava cave and hot spring, however, have such an ethereal, otherworldly beauty that they attract many visitors a year. This unique, fantastical appeal, did not go unnoticed by producers; HBO’s Game of Thrones even shot one of the season’s most iconic scenes here.

If you don’t want spoilers, please skip ahead to ‘Getting to Grjótagjá’.

Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Petr Brož

In Season Three, Episode Four, Grjótagjá is used as the setting for the much anticipated love scene between Jon Snow and the wildling woman Ygritte, where Jon Snow ‘proves’ his abandonment of the Night’s Watch by consummating their relationship.

In the televised version of the cave, there is a waterfall added with CGI, but otherwise, Grjótagjá is as it appears in reality.

Grjótagjá is far from the only place in Iceland used to build up the world of Westeros; in fact, it is not even the only one in the local area. Also in the Lake Mývatn area is the lava fortress of Dimmuborgir; in midwinter, this dramatic area was used to reflect the wildling camp of Mance Raider throughout Seasons Two and Three.

Also in the series are Mount Kirkjufell and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks in the penultimate episode of Season Seven, Vatnajökull glacier, on which ‘the Wall’ is built with CGI effects, and much of the landscape around Þingvellir National Park throughout. Icelandic mountain ranges can also be seen cut behind scenes filmed in countries such as Ireland and Croatia.

Getting to Grjótagjá          

Grjótagjá is located conveniently in the Mývatn area, which is part of the most popular sightseeing route of north Iceland, the Diamond Circle, and on the Ring Road that encircles the country.

Reaching it and getting to the hot spring, however, requires a reasonable level of fitness and a little sense of adventure. There is a slightly rocky path that takes you from Dimmuborgir to the cave itself, which you will need to be careful descending into; lava caves are very jagged, and the ground is uneven.

There are car parking spaces beside Grjótagjá if you do not want to take the short hike.

Wikimedia, Creative Commons, Photo Credit: Earthquakes Krafla

Krafla is a caldera, part of a greater volcanic system of the same name, located north of Lake Mývatn in North Iceland. It is one of the country’s most explosive volcanoes, having gone off approximately 29 times since the country was first settled.

Proportions of Krafla

The crater of Krafla’s caldera is about ten kilometres (seven miles) wide, although its fissure zone extends for 90 kilometres (56 miles). The Víti crater is located in this fissure zone, famed for the green lake within it.

At its tallest, the peak of Krafla is 818 metres (2684 feet) high.

Major Eruptions at Krafla

With 29 eruptions under its belt since settlement, Krafla has long had a reputation as an unpredictable and dangerous feature. Two, however, were more significant then the rest.

The Mývatn Fires were the first of these. Continuing for five years from 1724 to 1729, the fissure erupted across much of its length, and sent lava fountains so high in the air that they could be seen all the way across the Highlands, on the South Coast.

No one was killed directly by this eruption, although considering the ash and toxic fumes, it is difficult to be certain of how many indirectly died. It did, however, destroy three farms.

The second major eruptive episode at Krafla occurred between 1975 and 1984. Nine separate eruptions occurred, limiting services, industry and tourism in the area, and dramatically changing it.

For example, the hot spring of Grjótagjá was accessible prior to the eruption, but the temperature is now incredibly volatile.

Wikimedia, Creative Commons, Photo Credit: Christian Wirth

Utilisation of Krafla’s Energy

Since 1977, surprisingly established during an eruptive episode, a power station has existed at Krafla, helping the north with its green energy needs. Since then, there have been further attempts to harness its incredible power potential.

The most notable of these was a survey taken in 2006 that revealed a vast amount of lava just below the surface of the earth. This led to the creation of the Icelandic Deep Drilling Project’s first well, which discovered liquid rock a mere two kilometres (just over a mile) beneath the earth’s surface.

Surroundings of Krafla

Krafla is blessed with an incredible location, meaning visits to it can be accompanied by lots of different sites. This is because it sits in the Lake Mývatn area of the north, which is renowned for its diversity.

The lake itself, or, more correctly, the lakes themselves, are beautiful and serene, with dozens of species of nesting bird, fascinating flora and a wealth of geological sites. Amongst these, the Dimmuborgir lava fortress is the most impressive.

Krafla is also relatively close to the most powerful waterfall in Europe, Dettifoss, and an incredibly verdant horseshoe-shaped canyon, Ásbyrgi.

Reykjahlið is the closest settlement to Krafla, though small and with few services. The towns of Akureyri and Husavík, however, are still relatively close, and perfect for refreshment and rest.

The former is the largest settlement outside of the Reykjavík area, whereas the latter is often called the whale-watching capital of Europe.

维克镇(Vík)，全名为Vík í Mýdral，是冰岛主岛上最南端的小镇，距离首都雷克雅未克约186公里。

维克镇是冰岛一号环岛公路南岸沿线的著名旅游景点，无论是租车自驾还是参加冰岛本地旅行团。虽然小镇人口仅为300余人，维克镇的基础设施却十分完备，因此也是冰岛旅行中的重要旅途中转站，是休息、用餐或者住宿的绝佳去处。

维克镇附近特色

从首都雷克雅未克抵达维克镇大约需要两个半小时，沿途您将经过不少冰岛南岸的知名景点，其中包括斯科加瀑布(Skógafoss)和塞里雅兰瀑布(Seljalandsfoss)两大经典瀑布。

天气晴朗的时候，附近的埃亚菲亚德拉冰盖(Eyjafjallajökull)以及米尔达斯冰川(Mýrdalsjökull)也清晰可见。两座冰川下都掩藏了活跃的火山，埃亚菲亚德拉火山就曾在2010年大爆发，导致了欧洲航空交通大瘫痪。天气条件极好时，游客还有机会远眺到西人岛(Vestmannaeyjar)。

在抵达维克镇之前，您会首先抵达冰岛著名的观鸟海崖迪霍拉里(Dyrhólaey)。每年夏季5至8月的筑巢季节，海鹦就会来此筑巢栖居，迪霍拉里也将成为冰岛夏季观海鹦的最佳地点之一。

冰岛最著名旅游景点之一雷尼斯黑沙滩(Reynisfjara)就位于维克镇旁。雷尼斯黑沙滩被誉为全世界最美的非热带沙滩之一，以黝黑神秘的火山沙砾和熔岩地貌而闻名。

在雷尼斯沙滩，您可以找到独具冰岛特色的六棱玄武岩柱群与岩洞，大西洋中则矗立着壮丽的雷尼斯岩柱(Reynisdrangar)。有关雷尼斯岩柱的由来有许多个版本的传说，相传几只想把渔船拖上岸的巨魔因躲避不及阳光而石化，成为了如今的雷尼斯岩柱。

雷尼斯沙滩是夏天观午夜阳光、冬天观北极光的绝佳地点，但在游览沙滩时一定要注意个人安全，远离大西洋的巨浪，以防危险发生。

沿着一号公路继续东行，经过Skeiðarásandur黑沙滩，您将进入冰岛最大的国家公园——瓦特纳冰川国家公园(Vatnajökull)。大名鼎鼎的斯卡夫塔山自然保护区(Skaftafell)以及杰古沙龙冰河湖(Jökulsárlón)都位于国家公园内。冬季时，许多自驾游客会在游览完冰河湖后返回雷克雅未克；夏季时则有很多人选择继续向北进发，完成冰岛环岛之旅。

维克镇附近的野生生态

维克镇依傍着Reynisfjall山，与迪霍拉里海岬也很近。这一区域生活着丰富的鸟类。在小镇徒步，可以看到海鸥、暴雪鹱、海雀等鸟类，夏天更可以找到海鹦。

维克镇沿海而建，游人也有机会看到海滩上慵懒的野生海豹，甚至还有几率远看到海中的鲸鱼或者海豚。

维克镇的基础设施

维克镇是冰岛南部的主要城镇之一，基础设施完备，加油站、商店、咖啡店、超级市场、温泉泳池、不同级别的住宿选择应有尽有，镇上甚至还有羊毛工厂供游人参观。

维克镇人口很少，如果您对于食物有特别的要求、需要寻找特别的食材，维克镇的超市未必可以完全满足您的需求，最好的方法是从雷克雅未克买好所需的特别食材，带去维克镇食用。

Kerið is a volcanic crater lake in the Grímsnes area of South Iceland. It is close to the three major sites that comprise Iceland’s world-famous Golden Circle sightseeing route and thus makes for the perfect detour for those on visiting these landmarks.

Kerid and the Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is Iceland’s most popular tourist route. Its three main highlights are Gullfoss, or the ‘Golden Waterfall’; the Haukadalur Geothermal Valley, with its many springs and geysers; and Þingvellir National Park, the only UNESCO World Heritage Site on Iceland’s mainland and the birthplace of the country’s parliament.

There are several tour operators who offer trips to the Golden Circle. Many of those define their tours from others with extra stops, and Kerið crater is the most popular of these. It is approximately 40 minutes drive from Þingvellir and Haukadalur in different directions, providing visitors with two routes by which they can return to Reykjavík.

If travelling to Kerið crater alone, please be aware that there is a small entrance fee, of 400 ISK (about two Euros, or three US dollars). This is only to help the landowners preserve and protect the crater; after all, it is on privately owned land.

Other sites you may want to detour on when travelling the Golden Circle are the Sólheimar ecovillage, the Fontana Spa in Laugarvatn, the Secret Lagoon in Flúðir, and the Friðheimar tomato and horse farm.

Geology of Kerid

Kerið is approximately three thousand years old, making it roughly half the age of most volcanic calderas found in Iceland. This is the major reason as to why Kerið’s slopes are red in colour, rather than a volcanic black; the iron deposits are, geologically speaking, fresh.

This vivid redness is part of the appeal of visiting this crater. The crimson rocks contrast dramatically with their surroundings, particularly the intense azure colour of the waters within the crater lake, and the verdant bursts of vegetation.

Kerið is approximately 55 metres (180 feet) deep, 170 metres (558 feet) wide and 270 meters (886 feet) in circumference. It is possible to take a path right to the crater’s edge, to fully encircle it, and to descend down to the pristine waters of the crater lake.

Many crater lakes can be found in nearby, a region known as Iceland's Western Volcanic Zone. The area surrounding it is of barren, stark lava fields, further illustrating the volcanism of the region.

Scientists believe that Kerið was once a cone-shaped volcano. Upon eruption, it is widely believed that the volcano depleted its magma reserve, causing the foundation to fall in upon itself and result in the formation it has today. Of course, this was two thousand years before settlement, so no one is quite certain.

At some point in the centuries following the collapse, Kerið crater filled with water. The resulting lake is between seven and fourteen metres deep, depending on the time of year and the amount of rainfall.

The reason why the lake is so vividly coloured is that of the minerals from the rocks, seeping into and dyeing the water the aquamarine colour for which it is renowned.

Kirkjufell，冰岛斯奈山半岛直译为教会山（又译为教堂山），因为外形酷似草帽，在中文中得名“草帽山”。它位于冰岛西部斯奈山半岛之上，距离格伦达菲厄泽小镇（Grundarfjörður）不远，独特的外型吸引了无数世界各地的摄影师和游客到访，是冰岛“被拍摄次数最多”的山峰。

教会山的山体有着像教堂房顶般陡斜的两侧，从不同的角度欣赏它还会变成像巫婆的帽子或者冰淇淋一样的形状。

教会山摄影

高463米的教会山无疑是冰岛西部斯奈山半岛最具代表性的地标。几个世纪以来，它肩负者为航海员和旅行者们提供醒目坐标的功能。随着冰岛旅游业日益发展，它也渐渐成为了摄影师和行摄爱好者们最爱拍摄的冰岛风光之一。

在距离教会山不远处有三道名为“教会山瀑布”（Kirkjufellsfoss）的小瀑布，步行至瀑布内侧，就能到达拍摄教会山的最佳机位。这个经典机位不但能捕捉到远处的教会山，近处瀑布的湍急水流提供了绝佳前景。

虽然教会山瀑布的高度不高，但随着冰岛四季的天气气候变化，这道瀑布也会展现出不同的美态—夏季午夜阳光下的妩媚、冬季北极光下的动人，都是让它成为斯奈山半岛必访景点的原因。

教会山的底部有一个面积颇大的湖泊，在无风的日子，平静的湖面犹如明镜般把教会山的影像复刻在水中，为摄影师们制造出又一个绝佳的摄影机会。

教会山本身也会随着冰岛四季的变化，展现出不同的魅力。阳光充沛的夏季，教会山是葱郁的绿色；冬季时，教会山被积雪染成白色，显得格外纯净、祥和。当然，在冰岛夏天5至8月“极昼”的午夜阳光和9至4月的北极光衬托下，教会山的绝色更是让人心醉。

如果你是美剧《权力的游戏》的忠实粉丝，应该也不难发现教会山曾多次在剧中露脸。教会山在该剧中被设定为在“城墙以北”，当主角雪诺（Jon Snow）、猎犬（The Hound）追踪异鬼时，教会山就是他们口中所说指的“那座像箭头般的山”。

教会山徒步

教会山有一条相当陡峭、可以沿着徒步的小径，挑战者可以边攀登边欣赏周围田野、嶙峋的海岸线、河流等壮丽的全景。登上山顶至少需要大约一个半小时，往返山顶和平地需要至少3小时。

需要留意的是徒步这座山需要很高且纯熟的登山技巧，不推荐没有登山经验或者初阶者挑战。即使你有丰富的登山经验，也建议你报名参加徒步旅行团，在专业的登山向导带领下进行这次的挑战。

2018年时，在这里就曾经发生过致命的登山意外，为了避免惨案再次发生，建议一定要量力而为。

如何前往教会山

教会山距离格伦达菲厄泽小镇非常近，从冰岛首都雷克雅未克自驾出发到西部斯奈山半岛上的这个小镇只需要大概两小时的车程。到达小镇后，你只需要沿着54号公路开车几分钟，即可抵达教会山。在教会山脚下设有免费的停车场，你可以用自己的旅行节奏在此游览观光。

如果不租车自驾，可以参加各类斯奈山旅行团，从首都出发来这里观光游玩。

Hvítserkur, otherwise known as the Troll of Northwest Iceland, is a 15 m (49 ft) tall basalt rock stack protruding from Húnaflói Bay. The rock is a nesting ground for seagulls, shag and fulmar, making it appear constantly in motion, further enforcing the idea that Hvítserkur is, in some way, very much alive.

Hvítserkur is best viewed along the eastern shore of Vatnsnes Peninsula and takes its name from the birdlife that nests on top of it. In Icelandic, the name translates to “white shirt”, a nod to the colour of the bird droppings that cover the rock.

Photographers tend to be drawn to Hvítserkur as a subject due to the way the sun, moon, and aurora borealis reflect off of the flat water around its distinctive form.

Folklore of Hvítserkur

It should come as no surprise that Hvítserkur is often referred to as a troll—most distinctive Icelandic rocks are. Folklore says that Hvítserkur was originally a troll from the peninsula, determined to rip the bells down from Þingeyraklaustur convent; trolls, unlike elves, are said to be terrified of Christianity.

The beast was so enraged and persistent that it did not notice the rising sun, and was instantly petrified for eternity in its rays.

In hindsight, like most of Iceland’s folktales, it seems this one had a Christian message not so subtly weaved into it. It is likely that the story was an allusion to the people’s stoic resistance to the Christianisation of Iceland, implying those who held onto the view were as stubborn, stupid, violent and wicked as trolls, and perhaps on their way to a similar fate.

Iceland converted to Christianity in 1000 AD under the threat of invasion from Norway, and the transition was not easy; those who practised the religion of the Old Norse Gods were ostracised and punished for the millennium that followed.

Formation of Hvítserkur

The scientific community has another explanation for how Hvítserkur formed. Erosion from the cascading sea water has carved three large holes through the basalt rock, sculpting and shaping it into what appears as some petrified, mythological animal.

The base of the stack has been reinforced with concrete to protect its foundations from the sea, but this has not stopped visitors’ interpreting the rock’s peculiar shape.

Some say Hvítserkur looks like more like an elephant than a troll, while others claim it looks like a rhino. Some onlookers have gone as far as to claim the rock appears as a dragon or dinosaur drinking.

Sites Nearby Hvítserkur

Hvítserkur is located on Vatnsnes Peninsula, the best seal watching location in the country. In the town of Hvammstangi, there is the Icelandic Seal Centre, where visitors can learn all about how these charming animals have influenced the nation’s survival and folklore. The town also has some small shops and a restaurant with beautiful sea views.

To the south of Hvítserkur one can find the beach of Sigríðarstaðir, which is arguably the most reliable and rewarding location viewing seal colonies in the country.

Hvítserkur is also only a short drive from the historical and quintessential Súluvellir farm, a location that boasts incredible views of the surrounding landscape.

图片来自 众神瀑布+米湖温泉组合旅行团|阿克雷里出发，奢享温泉体验

米湖温泉(Mývatn Nature Baths)位于冰岛北部的米湖景区，距离雷恰利兹小镇(Reykjahlíð)两公里左右，是冰岛最热门的地热温泉体验地之一。

米湖温泉于2004年正式营业，有冰岛北部的“蓝湖温泉”之称。米湖温泉是该地区内最大的天然地热温泉，也日渐受到游客们的欢迎；尤其是如果准备夏季造访，最好提早预定门票。

米湖温泉设施及门票价格

米湖温泉围绕一座大型潟湖而建，温泉水温常年维持在36～40摄氏度。温泉富含硫等矿物质，对改善呼吸道及皮肤问题有显著效果。

米湖温泉设有两个直接坐落于地热温泉上方的桑拿蒸汽房。蒸汽房内温度接近50摄氏度，湿度接近100％，在进入蒸汽房之前要补充充足的水分。温泉内还设有温泉池、独立的儿童戏水池及餐厅。

米湖温泉成人门票冬季期间(10月～4月)为4500冰岛克朗；夏季期间(5月～9月)5000冰岛克朗；13至15岁青年门票冬季期间(10月～4月)1800冰岛克朗；夏季期间(5月～9月)2200冰岛克朗；12岁或以下小童在有家长陪同下免费。老人、学生和伤残人士门票冬季期间(10月～4月)3000冰岛克朗；夏季期间(5月～9月)3300冰岛克朗。
*价格更新至2019年3月，一切价格以米湖官网为准

米湖温泉周边旅游景点

除了米湖天然温泉之外，冰岛北部的米湖景区(Mývatn)还集聚了众多奇诡的自然风光与地质地貌。Námaskarð地热区距离温泉不远，蒸汽孔、沸泥潭等地热奇观一展冰岛北部的外星球氛围，被矿物质染得斑斓的土地也令人眼花缭乱。

黑暗城堡(Dimmuborgir)比邻而立，嶙峋交错的火山熔岩拔地而起，展现着古堡般的恢弘气势；这里也是冰岛传说中十三个圣诞老人的家。如果您是美剧《权力的游戏(冰与火之歌)》粉丝，或许还会发现黑暗城堡就是剧中“野人”的营地。

黑暗城堡旁还隐藏着另一处小众景点，同时也是美剧的取景地：Grjótagjá洞穴温泉。温泉因温度过高现已关闭，不供游人体验，但您仍然可以下到洞内，参观雪诺和“野人”的定情之地。

米湖本身浩渺而美丽，众多鸟类聚居于此，光是鸭子就有超过十几种。如果对植物感兴趣，记得去寻找这里举世罕见的珍奇苔藓球。

米湖景区是冰岛北部旅游路线钻石圈中的一站。除上述景点外，钻石圈还包括了黛提瀑布(Dettifoss)、阿斯匹吉峡谷(Ásbyrgi)和众神瀑布(Goðafoss)等壮丽的自然胜景。

Hvammstangi is a village on the Vatnsnes Peninsula, six kilometres (four miles) north of the Ring Road. Nestled beside the Miðfjörður fjord, Hvammstangi is the most densely populated area in West Húnaþing County, with roughly 600 inhabitants.

History

Historically, Hvammstangi was an important trading centre, dating back to 1856. The Trade Museum Bardúsa, located in the central town, tells this story, offering visitors an insight into both the small town’s development and how early settlers to the island once conducted their day to day business.

Culture

Today, Hvammstangi is a regional provider of education, administration, and tourism, the main draw being the inquisitive seal colonies who spend their days sunbathing or playing on the Vatnsnes Peninsula.

This area, along with the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, is the best place to see go seal-watching in the country.

It comes as no surprise, therefore, that Hvammstangi is home to the Icelandic Seal Centre, found right beside the town’s picturesque harbour.

Here it is possible to learn about the different seal species around Iceland, their importance to the country’s folklore and their historical cultivation by the people. The building also acts as a tourist information bureau, directing visitors toward the seal watching, sightseeing and sea angling trips that are all available on boat tours.

Hvammstangi has a reputation for its specialised small businesses. Next door to the seal centre, there is a seafood restaurant - Sjávarborg - that boasts brilliant views of Miðfjörður, and presents the opportunity for visitors to try some of the local produce, fresh from the ocean.

The museum Bardúsa, also being a crafts shop, sells and displays locally-made, beautifully handcrafted items. Bardúsa also hosts “S. Davíðsson Merchant’s Shop”, an old general store which was still up and running in the early 20th century.

The town also boasts a goldsmith, supermarket, health centre, swimming pool, cliff-side campsite and the largest sewing and knitting factory in Iceland.

Geography

The Vatnsnes Peninsula is easily accessible from Hvammstangi and offers a wealth of adventure on its own. Visitors here can explore the jagged rock Ánastaðastapi, on the peninsula’s western coastline, or alternatively, drive over to Húnafjörður bay to see the 15m high basalt monolith, Hvítserkur, sticking itself awkwardly through the battering ocean waves.

Photographers will find Vatnsnes a dream come true, with the abandoned farm of Stapar, the wild plains of the lowlands and the encircling, mountainous horizons.

The Lóndrangar basalt cliffs are amongst the many geological wonders of the Snæfellnes peninsula.

Geology of Lóndrangar

Once a volcanic crater, all that remains after aeons of ocean battering are two great pillars upon a cliff, one 75 metres (246 ft) high and the other 61 metres (200 ft).

Their dramatic scale has earned this incredible formation the nickname ‘the rocky castle.’

The cliffs can be accessed easily from the Visitor’s Centre, through fields of mossy lava, but they can also be seen from the sea. Surfing is relatively popular in the area and doing so in the shadows of these great peaks only adds to the experience.

Folklore of Lóndrangar

The surrounding lands are steeped in folklore; farmers have never made use of the fields around the Lóndrangar basalt cliffs due to the elves that are rumoured to live there.

Nearby, at Þúfubjarg, another cliff on the Snӕfellsnes Peninsula, it was said that the poet Kolbeinn Jöklaskáld met the devil and struck a deal with him.

Djúpalónssandur is an arched-shaped bay of dark cliffs and black sand, located on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland. 

History & Monuments 

The location was once home to a prosperous fishing village, similar to other abandoned hamlets and ports of the area such as Búðir and Hellnar. These thrived back when the Snæfellsnes Peninsula functioned as one of the most active trading posts of the island, but now are simply centres for tourism.

Fascinating remnants of this period are found in the form of four ancient lifting stones that still occupy the beach. The stones range in weight from 23 kg (50 lbs) to 155 kg (342 lbs) and were used to test the strength of fishermen. Their names are Amlóði (useless), Hálfdrættingur (weakling), Hálfsterkur (half-strong) and Fullsterkur (full-strong). Even today, you can see how you would have fared working on Iceland's dangerous seas by trying your luck at lifting these stones.

In 1948, the English trawler Epine GY 7 from Grimsby shipwrecked on the shore, with fourteen dead and five survivors. The rusty iron remains of the vessel remain scattered on the beach, now protected as a monument to those who perished. 

Environment & Surroundings

The Snæfellsnes Peninsula boasts countless natural wonders, where locals and travellers both flock on a daily basis to enjoy the unique landscape and stunning coastlines. Djúpalónssandur’s black pebble beach is particularly stunning with its rocky coastal lava formations, which include a large lava rock with a hole in the middle through which you can directly spot the Snæfellsjökull glacier volcano. 

Behind the rocks are two freshwater lagoons called Djúpulón and Svörtulón, with the former serving as the namesake of the bay. Though believed in olden times to be bottomless, the water bodies were later revealed to reach the depth of just five metres.

Lagoons such as these are held in high regard amongst the Icelandic people, and Svörtulón is thought to possess healing properties, especially after having been blessed by Bishop Guðmundur góði ('the good') in the late 1100s. 

A natural monument of the area is Söngklettur, or “singing rock”, a large lava rock with a reddish hue that resembles an elfish church. Other rock formations of folklorish appeal rest close by, including the alleged trolls-turned-to-stone Kerling and Lóndrangar. 

Warning

When visiting Djúpalónssandur, take heed that these are treacherous waters and the Atlantic Ocean’s powerful suction can easily carry you out to sea. This beach is not one for wading, but enjoying from a safe distance, especially if the weather is stormy. 

The video below shows the power and shocking speed of sneaker waves that occur at locations such as Djúpalónssandur and Reynisfjara in the south.

The glistening pebbles that make up the beach known as Djúpalónsperlur, or “pearls of the deep lagoon”, are gorgeous to look at and might seem appealing to stone collectors, but they are protected by law and should not be removed from the area by visitors.

Vestrahorn, on the Stokksnes peninsula in Southeast Iceland, is one of the country’s most breathtaking mountains. With peaks reaching up to 454 metres (1490 ft), steep cliffs rising from the sides of a stunning lagoon, and black sand beaches all around, it promises to blow away anyone with an appreciation of stark natural beauty. 

Slightly off the beaten track, Vestrahorn is less ‘touristy’ than many of Iceland’s other mountains, making it popular with avid photographers. The Stokksnes peninsula also has an interesting history stretching back to the 9th Century, with Horn being one of the country’s first settlements; it was also a vital location of the British army during World War Two. 

Just over an hour’s drive from the incredible glacial lagoon Jökulsárlón, and close to Europe’s largest glacier Vatnajökull, Vestrahorn is a natural wonder amongst natural wonders, and a great place to experience the isolated, quiet, beautiful charm of this island. Be aware, however, that the beach at Stokksnes is private, and has a small entrance fee, which allows the landowner to keep up the maintenance of the road.

Credit: Wikimedia, Creative Commons. Photo by pjt56.

Ytri Tunga is a beach by a farm of the same name on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Unlike many of the beaches in Iceland, Ytri Tunga has golden sand, rather than black.

Seal Watching at Ytri Tunga

Alongside Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and the Vatnsnes Peninsula, Ytri Tunga is the most reliable place in Iceland to see seals.

Just offshore, on some rocks protruding from the water, at least a few individuals from the local colony can be seen hauling out all throughout the year. The best time to see them, however, is in the summer months. 

The seals that haul out here are Harbour Seals, one of the two common species found in Iceland. The other is the Grey Seal. In spite of what many think, Iceland no longer is home to walruses, although they are spotted in the Westfjords on rare occasions. Other visiting species include Hooded Seals and Ringed Seals.

Seals and Icelanders have had an interesting relationship over the past millennium. Seals, of course, were vital to their survival, due to their meaty bodies, fat for oil, and their waterproof hides, but also appeared in folklore as mysterious and beautiful selkies. Most other Nordic countries depicted Selkies as evil, but not Iceland.

More recently, seals have been killed for fashion and due to their impact on fisheries, as they often damage nets and equipment as they steal catches. Today, however, most Icelanders see seals as a beautiful addition to the culture of the nature rather than a pest or a pelt, and encourage visitors to enjoy viewing them.

On this site, you can find an article about seals in Iceland.

Getting to Ytri Tunga

Ytri Tunga is easy to reach from Reykjavík. By driving the Ring Road north, you will eventually reach the Snӕfellsnes Peninsula. Take the road along its south side, and about halfway down, you will come across a small sign pointing to Ytri Tunga Beach.

Here, there is a carpark, an information sign, and a small path leading to the viewing area. When watching the seals, it is important to give them space, as they can be dangerous if frightened, and to keep the noise respectfully low.

The South Coast of Iceland is the country's most visited sightseeing route, along with the Golden Circle.

This incredible shoreline stretches from the greater Reykjavík area in the west to the magnificent Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon in the east and is lined with countless natural wonders such as cascading waterfalls, volcanoes, black sand beaches and glaciers.

Geography, Nature & Wildlife

The South Coast is the most easily accessible part of the country’s southern region, found along the Route 1 highway (the Ring Road), which encircles Iceland. The area consists of a diverse lowland that transitions between, marshlands, bays, cultivated pastures, estuaries and black sand deserts.

Underneath the soil rests a vast lava field, known as Þjórsárhraun. Its edges reach several hundred metres offshore where the ocean waves crash upon them, thereby protecting the lowland from the invasion of the sea. This results in the South Coast being unusually lacking in the deep fjords that so distinctly characterise the rest of Iceland's shoreline.

The region boasts vibrant bird life during all seasons. Freshwater birds nest in the marshlands and around the estuaries, while seabirds flock around the cliffs of Reynisdrangar and Dyrhólaey, including the North Atlantic puffin between May and August. Some species stay throughout the harsh Icelandic winter, including the northern diver, the loom and various species of gulls and ducks.  

Seals are often found along the shore, particularly around the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach. As with everywhere in Iceland, you should always keep an eye out to sea, as whales and dolphins reside all along its coastline.

Highlights of the South Coast

The South Coast offers an unprecedented array of natural wonders that draw thousands of visitors each day.

When driving the route from Reykjavík city, the first major features are the two great waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, which sit beneath the notorious subglacial volcano, Eyjafjallajökull. On clear days from these beautiful cascades, the Westman Islands can be seen across the ocean.

A little further down the route is the glacier Mýrdalsjökull, which covers one of Iceland’s most explosive volcanoes, Katla. Many glacier hikes are taken here upon the outlet of Sólheimajökull.

The aforementioned Dyrhólaey cliffs are next, home to many seabirds. Even if you come outside of puffin season, they are well worth a visit; jutting out to sea is an enormous rock arch of the same name, which you can marvel at from many angles.

Adjacent to the village of Vík is the famous black-sand beach, Reynisfjara, home to the rock pillars of Reynisdrangar, said to be two trolls frozen by the light of the sun. Though beautiful, this area is gaining notoriety for its dangerous sneaker waves, so visitors should be sure to stay well away from the edge of the water, even on a calm, still day.

There are no landmasses between Reynisfjara beach and the continent of Antarctica, so you can imagine how the waves can build momentum.

After passing through Vík, you will cross the glacial sand plain of Skeiðarársandur, before entering Vatnajökull National Park, home to the largest ice cap in Europe, Vatnajökull itself, dozens of glacial outlets and the magnificent Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.

While almost all of these sites can be seen from Route 1, they make up a fraction of what the South Coast has to offer. The vast sand plains of Sólheimasandur are home to a crashed DC-3 Plane Wreck, and within the Vatnajökull National Park is the dramatic Skaftafell Nature Reserve.

Less than a kilometre from Seljalandsfoss is the hidden gem of Gljúfrabúi waterfall, and short distances from Jökulsárlón you will find the Diamond Beach, where icebergs wash on the black-sand shore, and another glacier lagoon, Fjallsárlón.

钻石冰沙滩位于冰岛南岸的杰古沙龙冰河湖(Jökulsárlón)旁，是一片遍布碎冰的绝美黑沙滩，属Breiðamerkursandur冰川平原的一部分。

冰河湖内的碎冰被暗涌冲刷上岸，陈列在沙滩之上。透明的冰块和黝黑的沙滩形成了鲜明的对比，特别是在阳光明媚的日子里，冰块反射着太阳光芒，犹如钻石般闪耀，因此得名钻石冰沙滩。钻石沙滩是摄影爱好者、自然爱好者和野生生态爱好者们的天堂。许多野生海豹生活在这一地区，经常出现在岸边或冰河湖中的巨型浮冰上，因此钻石冰沙滩及周边地区也是冰岛观赏海豹的最佳地点之一。

Breiðamerkursandur冰川平原

Breiðamerkursandur冰川冲刷平原位于Hornafjörður峡湾地区。这片广袤的沙滩沿冰岛南岸延绵约18公里，从Kvíárjökull冰川脚下一直延伸到Breiðamerkurjökull冰川下的杰古沙龙冰河湖。

Kvíárjökull冰川和Breiðamerkurjökull冰川同属欧洲最大冰川——瓦特纳冰原(Vatnajökull)的分支冰舌，位于瓦特纳冰川国家公园内。

Breiðamerkursandur形成于火山运动。瓦特纳冰川的三只冰舌(Breiðamerkurjökull、Hrútárjökull、Fjallsjökull)由于火山活动而向前流动，碾碎了其下的岩石，同时推动了冰川沉积物，塑造出一片平原。

冰岛有许多形成原理类似的冰川平原。Breiðamerkurjökull冰川的末端更切入地表，塑造出如今的杰古沙龙冰河湖。这座1935年才形成的湖泊是目前冰岛最深的湖。

虽然冰河湖和钻石冰沙滩有着令人屏息的美景，但它们都是气候变化、全球变暖的产物。随着冰川不断消融，冰河湖和冰沙滩的冰将逐步消失，最终变为普通的湖泊与沙滩。

杰古沙龙冰河湖

杰古沙龙冰河湖是冰岛最热门的旅游景点之一。湖中漂浮着无数从冰川上剥离的巨型浮冰。湖泊与海洋相连，暗流不断改变着浮冰的形态与位置，冰河湖的景色因此瞬息万变。

Jökulsá河将冰河湖与大西洋连接，湖内浮冰会随着河水流动不断向大海移动，最终汇入海洋，许多碎冰还会被海浪带到冰河湖的出水口，在Breiðamerkursandur黑沙滩上陈列，这就是著名的“钻石沙滩”。

钻石冰沙滩安全须知

钻石冰沙滩不似雷尼斯黑沙滩(Reynisfjara)那般危险，并没有汹涌澎湃的巨浪，但在游览沙滩时仍有许多需要格外注意的安全事项。

首先要防范巨型冰川碎冰。任何时候都绝对不要攀上这些冰块，以免被冰块锋利的边缘割伤。

更危险的是，貌似平稳的浮冰暗藏危险；有人踏上冰块时，冰块很有可能因为突然的重量改变而翻转，使人落水；落水者则还有可能被湖泊暗涌拖入海中，或者因体温骤降而休克，危及生命！

为了禁止游客做出鲁莽且危害个人生命安全的行为，地方政府已经正式立例，对踏上浮冰的游客征收高额罚款。

一号环岛公路是冰岛最主要的公路干线，总长1332公里，连通了除西峡湾与斯奈山半岛(Snæfellsnes)外的所有冰岛自然景区。

冰岛最大的两座城市：世界最北首都雷克雅未克与“北部首都”阿克雷里(Akureyri)也位于一号公路沿线。

博尔加内斯(Borgarnes)、布伦迪欧斯(Blönduós)、埃伊尔斯塔济(Egilsstaðir)、霍芬镇(Höfn)、教堂镇(Kirkjubæjarklaustur)、维克镇(Vík)、海德拉小镇(Hella)、Hvolsvöllur小镇、塞尔福斯(Selfoss)、“温泉镇”惠拉盖尔济(Hveragerði)等为游客提供住宿、餐饮的大型城镇也都位于一号公路旁。

一号环岛公路沿线景点

一号环岛公路路况良好、交通便利，引领自驾与参团的游客们前往最热门的冰岛旅游景点。绵长的公路沿冰岛南岸纵横铺展，仿佛一条金链，将塞里雅兰瀑布(Seljalandsfoss)与斯科加瀑布(Skógafoss)；米尔达斯冰川(Mýrdalsjökull)与艾雅法拉冰川火山(Eyjafjallajökull，又译埃亚菲亚德拉冰盖)；雷尼斯黑沙滩(Reynisfjara)与杰古沙龙冰河湖(Jökulsárlón)等必游景点串联在一起。

沿一号公路深入东部峡湾地区，您还将邂逅冰岛最大森林Hallormsstaðaskógur，以及神秘的拉加尔湖(Lagarfljót)；传说一只形似尼斯湖水怪的骇人巨兽就藏匿于湖心。

冰岛北部的米湖地区(Mývatn)、众神瀑布(Goðafoss)，冰岛西部的历史文化名镇与淳朴自然风光也都令沿一号公路旅行的游人流连。

一号环岛公路的历史

一号公路竣工于1974年，是冰岛交通建设的里程碑之一；横跨Skeiðará河的冰岛最长桥梁也于同一年投入使用；1998年鲸鱼峡湾(Hvalfjörður)地下隧道建成，大大缩短了冰岛西部与北部之间的距离与交通时间。桥梁、隧道、公路共同构成了一号公路发达便捷的交通网。

长达5.8公里的鲸鱼峡湾隧道是冰岛最长的隧道，位于海平面165米以下。东南部霍芬镇附近的一号公路路段上还坐落着另一处隧道：Almannaskarð；冰岛北部的Vaðlaheiðar隧道也已于2018年12月落成，将阿克雷里与胡萨维克(Húsavík)之间的距离缩短了16公里。

冬季时节，一号环岛公路的大部分路段都继续开放通行，只有东部地区的少部分道路会因冰雪封路。冰岛天气多变，其他路段也有封路可能，游客需密切关注路况信息通知。

一号环岛公路旅行注意事项

一号公路大部分路段为双向车道，两个行车道方向相反。一些路段在上世纪四十年代的乡村公路基础上建成，驾驶者需特别注意交通标示，尤其是即将出现的急转弯、盲视转弯、盲点与单行桥等易发生交通事故的路段。

一号公路柏油路段限速90公里/时，经过城市时需减速，碎石路段限速80公里/时。

全年均可驾驶二驱车沿一号公路旅行，但冬季(10月～5月)来冰岛租车自驾，最好驾驶更适合冰雪路面的四驱车。

无论冬夏、无分路段，在冰岛自驾必须格外注意驾驶安全。如果准备停车拍照，必须将车辆停靠在安全合法的停车区域，切记不可在道路中央随意停车。

Photo by Regína Hrönn Ragnarsdóttir.

Kvernufoss is a waterfall with a drop of 30 metres (98 feet) in South Iceland. Considered a hidden gem, it rests in a gorge on the South Coast, close to one of Iceland’s most visited waterfalls Skógafoss. 

Surroundings 

After having visited the highly popular South Coast attractions of Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, most people continue along the Ring Road to their next destination. East of Skógafoss, however, visitors to the area should take time to visit the stunning Kvernufoss. Starting out from behind Skógar Museum, a hiking trail of approximately 20 minutes leads into the gorge Kvernugil by the river Kverná. The river is not to be confused with Kverná on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

Once the waterfall is reached, you can walk all the way behind it and look out through its misty cascade. During the winter season, however, the slippery ice of the gorge and the risk of falling icicles prevent you from walking behind the falls. 

The Diamond Circle is a famed 260 kilometre (162 mile) sightseeing route in the northeast of Iceland, characterised by its sheer number of natural attractions, picturesque settlements and fantastic landscapes.

The Diamond Circle is available for those who wish to drive the route themselves, as well as those who would prefer to partake in a guided tour of the region.

It is considered the northeastern alternative to the popular Golden Circle sightseeing route, which is reached by travelling for forty minutes from Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík, and comprised of the three major sites Þingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Valley and Gullfoss Waterfall.

The route’s four main attractions are Lake Mývatn, Europe’s most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss, the horseshoe-shaped canyon, Ásbyrgi and the fishing town of Húsavík, known primarily for its fantastic whale watching opportunities.

Lake Mývatn

Lake Mývatn is one of the most popular sites of the north; it is a favourite location for birdwatchers in particular, who can see dozens of species year round.

The lake area is also known for its flora, being home to rare moss balls and many wildflowers, and its geology. This takes the form of basalt pillars rising from the waters, pseudocraters surrounding them, and the lava fortress of Dimmuborgir.

Dimmuborgir is a dramatic and beautiful location, used as a setting for the Game of Thrones franchise. In folklore, it is said to be home to the thirteen Icelandic Yule Lads

Dettifoss.

Dettifoss is the most powerful waterfall in Europe, found in the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river in the Jökulsárgljúfur Canyon, which is part of the great Vatnajökull National Park. It is 40 metres (131 feet) tall and over 100 metres (328 feet) wide.

Dettifoss is one of three waterfalls in the river; Selfoss is just a little upstream, while Hafragilsfoss is downriver.

Ásbyrgi

The horseshoe shaped canyon of Ásbyrgi is so perfectly formed that one could be forgiven for thinking it has divine origins. This is, in fact, what old Icelanders used to believe; according to legend, it was created when one of the hoofs of the eight-legged horse of the god Oðin made contact with the earth.

The land within the canyon is well-forested, due to the shelter that the sheer cliffs provide.

Húsavík

Húsavík is often nicknamed ‘the whale-watching capital of Europe’, due to the wealth of life in its waters. Most tour operators boast 100 percent sighting rates on their tours throughout summer, with the most common species being humpback whales and white-beaked dolphins.

Over twenty species of cetacean, however, are found in Iceland’s waters, and there is a chance of seeing any of them, depending on the time of year, from the town. Blue whales, for example, have been seen in summer, and some rather lost Narwhals and Belugas have been seen in winter.

Other Sites

Other sites on the Diamond Circle include the likes of Goðafoss Waterfall, Æðafossar (“Eider Falls”), Hljóðaklettar (“Echo rocks” or “The Whispering Cliffs”) and Laugar swimming pool.

Do note, however, that not all tour operators travel to each of these attractions. If you are looking to visit each location individually, with nothing missed, it is recommended to drive the sightseeing route yourself.