旅游团优惠套票｜黄金圈一日游＋斯奈山一日游＋卡特拉冰洞一日游

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。

雷克雅未克(Reykjavík)是冰岛的首都，亦是世界上位置最北的首都。

相比其他北欧都市，冰岛首都雷克雅未克更多了几分静谧、几分安详(市区人口约为12万，大雷克雅未克地区人口也仅为20万)，但这座城市充满了活力与惊喜，每年都吸引无数游客来此体验世界尽头的另一种生活。雷克雅未克是冰岛的政治、经济与文化中心，也是世界上最干净、最安全的城市。

雷克雅未克的地理位置

雷克雅未克位于冰岛西南部，临法赫萨湾(Faxaflói)而建。冰川、地震与火山喷发运动共同塑造了这一地区的地理地貌，这一地区也富含地热能，要知道“雷克雅未克”的意思就是“冒烟的海湾”。

雷克雅未克的大部分地区在大冰期时被掩埋于一座延伸至奥尔塔内斯半岛(Álftanes)的广袤冰川之下，其余部分则被海洋淹没。大冰期末期，陆块上升，冰川脱落，这片土地才得以浮出地表。

雷克雅未克的海岸线曲折而绵长，点缀着众多半岛、海湾、海峡以及维迪岛(Viðey)等众多岛屿，海湾中还有多种海鸟与鲸鱼栖居。一座起伏有致的山峰点缀着雷克雅未克海岸，在不同季节变幻出不同的美，这就是著名的埃斯亚山(Esjan)。

埃斯亚山是雷克雅未克地区的最高山峰，颇受徒步与登山爱好者的钟爱。从雷克雅未克海湾远眺，Akrafjall与Skarðsheiði也将映入视线。晴朗天气中，甚至连斯奈山半岛(Snæfellsnes)上的斯奈菲尔冰川也会在天边浮现。

Elliðaárdalur山谷中的Elliðaá河是雷克雅未克的最大河流，也是冰岛钓三文鱼的最佳地点之一。

雷克雅未克的交通

冰岛没有火车与地铁，最常见的交通工具是汽车与公交车。雷克雅未克还有两处港口：位于市中心的旧港与位于城市东部的Sundahöfn港。

雷克雅未克市区内有一座国内机场，位于Vatnsmýrin，与市中心以及珍珠楼Perlan所在的Öskjuhlíð山相距不远。冰岛的国际机场是位于雷克雅内斯半岛(Reykjanes)上的凯夫拉维克国际机场(Keflavík)，距离首都约有50公里。

游客可以选择租自行车、汽车或吉普车在雷克雅未克旅行，或直接参加从首都出发的旅行团。如果只是参观市中心地区的城市地标景点，可以选择直接步行或乘坐公交车。

雷克雅未克旅行活动

雷克雅未克是著名的北欧文学艺术之都，全年都会举办各种特色活动与节日。无论哪个月份来雷克雅未克旅行，都有机会邂逅来自世界各地的名人、艺术家、音乐家、歌手、作家、诗人等——例如比约克、胜利玫瑰Sigur Rós等冰岛知名音乐人；以及《宇宙天使》的作者埃纳尔·茂尔·古德蒙德松(Einar Már Guðmundsson)、曾与比约克合作作词且如今蜚声国际文坛的诗人松(Sjón)等。

冰岛电波音乐节、Sónar音乐节、秘密夏至音乐节、雷克雅未克同志骄傲游行(Gay Pride)、雷克雅未克国际电影节RIFF、雷克雅未克文学节、文化之夜、雷克雅未克艺术节、美食欢乐节(Food & Fun)、雷克雅未克时尚周等大大小小的节日每年都会如期而至。

想要更加深入地领略酷炫的冰岛文化历史，可以参观城市中的博物馆、艺术馆与摄影展览，在咖啡厅、酒吧或Harpa音乐厅听音乐现场演出，到城市旧港与Grótta灯塔观日落、等极光，在Laugavegur购物主街上购买旅行纪念品，或者去逛逛惊喜无限的跳蚤市场。游客还可以出海参加观鸟、观鲸旅行团，或者登上维迪岛，参观岛上的历史遗迹与艺术装置。阅读这篇《玩转雷克雅未克：十大必做之事》深度攻略，像冰岛本地人一样体验世界最北首都生活。

冰岛议会大厦Alþingi前的Austurvöllur广场上伫立着冰岛独立“国父”Jón Sigurðsson的雕像，一街之隔便是雷克雅未克的主教座堂(Dómkirkjan)。广场周围环绕着多家餐厅、酒吧与咖啡厅。Austurvöllur是冰岛有名的抗议集会地点，2008年冰岛金融危机时愤怒的市民就曾齐聚广场抗议示威。

沿Lækjargata街漫步，游客将到达托宁湖(Tjörnin)与市政厅。天鹅、鸭子、海鸥等水鸟常年在湖泊中栖息，托宁湖喂鸭子也是在雷克雅未克旅行的必做之事之一。湖滨公园是休憩、散步、遛狗的好去处，夏季时湖边还会不时举办露天音乐会。

冰岛大学、北欧之屋(Nordic House)、Vatnsmýrin湿地与托宁湖仅一街之隔。各种与北欧有关的音乐、文学、艺术活动时常在北欧之屋上演，而其旁的Vatnsmýrin自然保护区则是许多鸟类的重要栖息地。

沿海的雷克雅未克虽没有地中海式的阳光海滩，但天气良好时，由地热加热的Nauthólsvík海滩也是个游泳、晒太阳的好去处。城市中还有多家地热温泉泳池，其中最大一座位于Laugardalur，与Ásmundarsafn雕塑展览馆、雷克雅未克动物园、植物园都相距不远。

另一座海滩Ægissíða位于雷克雅未克的西城区(Vesturbær)，开阔的海景与石滩景色令人心旷神怡，在海滩上可以远眺到冰岛总统府Bessastaðir。

Skólavörðuholt山丘上的哈尔格林姆斯大教堂(Hallgrímskirkja)是雷克雅未克的另一座必游城市地标；购票登上教堂尖塔，游客可以一览雷克雅未克城市全景，将可爱的北欧彩色房顶尽收眼底。

建于Öskjuhlíð山上的珍珠楼是鸟瞰雷克雅未克城市全景的另一个好去处，珍珠楼内也设有咖啡厅与冰岛自然展览。176000棵树木环绕着珍珠楼，营造了葱茏而静谧的环境。游客可以一边在林中骑车、漫步，一边呼吸清新的森林空气。

雷克雅未克是许多游客游览冰岛的大本营。许多旅行团都从首都接团出发，黄金圈、蓝湖温泉等景点也与首都相距不远，自驾距离适中。首都范围内的Heiðmörk自然保护区以及城市外围的蓝山(Bláfjöll)也是颇受欢迎的自然景点。

最详尽、最专业的雷克雅未克行程指南，尽在雷克雅未克攻略页面。

斯奈菲尔冰川火山(Snæfellsjökull)坐落于冰岛西部斯奈山半岛(Snæfellsnes)的中央，以冰川为核心而建的斯奈菲尔国家公园是冰岛三大国家公园之一。

冰川海拔达1446米，晴朗天气中，从首都雷克雅未克的港口即可远眺到冰川的雪盖；冰川之下隐藏的成层火山已有七十万年的地质历史。

这座山峰本名为斯奈菲尔(Snæfell，即“雪山”)，而为了将其与其他同名山峰区分开，人们在山峰后加上了冰川一词“jökull”。

全球变暖大势下，斯奈菲尔冰川也难逃厄运；2012年时，冰川顶部的积雪就史无前例地全部融化，冰川的未来命运令人担忧。

历史

海德利桑德(Hellissandur)、Rif、欧拉夫斯维克(Ólafsvík)等几处小镇散落在斯奈菲尔冰川周围，它们在历史上都曾是活跃繁忙的商业中心与渔业重镇。

13世纪起，渔业开始在斯奈山半岛地区(Snæfellsnes)兴盛起来，开阔的海域与便捷的地理为捕鱼提供了完美的自然条件；布雷扎海湾(Breiðafjörður)也无比富饶，其中生活着丰富的鱼类。

许多小镇也因商贸渔业往来而得以建立、发展，Dritvík就是其中著名的一座；虽然规模不大，小镇上曾有40～60艘渔船往来，劳动力数量达600余人。

19世纪时，伴随着工业化与鱼群数量减少，这一地区的渔业亦渐渐萎缩，但半岛上的许多居民如今仍以捕鱼为生。当地的经济支柱无疑是旅行业，随着2001年斯奈菲尔国家公园的建立，越来越多的游客会到访这座美景无限的“冰岛缩影”半岛。

民间传说

几个世纪来，斯奈菲尔冰川一直被认为蕴含着神秘而古老的能量，许多游客慕名而来，朝圣之旅屡见不鲜。

在流传自14世纪的《鲍达尔萨迦》传说(Bárðar saga Snæfellsáss)中，半人半魔的主人公鲍达尔(Bárður)在故事结尾进入冰川之中，成为了斯奈菲尔冰川的守护神。

相传冰川上的许多石块都是巨魔遭遇阳光石化而成，或是神秘的隐身人——精灵的栖息之所。

1993年11月5日，成千上百的人聚集于斯奈菲尔冰川等待外星人UFO的出现与降落，美国CNN甚至派来了一队摄影人员。虽然外星人并未现身，但仍有许多人相信圣洁而美丽的斯奈菲尔冰川掩藏着许多我们还未解开的谜团。

文学文化

在法国小说家儒勒·凡尔纳于1864年创作的名作《地心历险记》中，斯奈菲尔冰川是通向地心世界的入口；这座冰川火山也为其他艺术家与文学家赋予了无限的创作灵感。

在捷克科幻作家路德维克·索切克(Ludvík Souček)的作品《盲鸟》以及冰岛诺贝尔文学奖得主哈尔多尔·拉克斯内斯(Halldór Laxness)的《冰川下的基督》中，斯奈菲尔冰川都扮演了重要的角色。

附近景点

斯奈山半岛上还分布着多样而神奇的地质景观，例如冰川脚下的Djúpalónssandur就是一片美丽的火山黑沙滩，矗立大西洋中的Lóndrangar怪物海岸则是两座巨型玄武岩柱，Gatklettur岩石拱也是一处造型鬼斧神工的天然熔岩构造。

Djúpalónssandur黑沙滩上陈列着四块举重石，曾经的海员就利用这几块石头比试自己的力气，检验自己是否到达了出海的标准。四块石头分别名为：Amlóði(无用)、Hálfdrættingur(弱儒)、Hálfsterkur(半力)、Fullsterkur(全力)。要成为海员，至少要能搬动“半力”！

Saxhóll火山口与Sönghellir“唱歌洞”也是斯奈山半岛上的热门地质景点。

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。

Katla is one of Iceland’s most explosive volcanoes, located underneath Iceland’s fourth largest ice cap, Mýrdalsjökull. Since settlement, it has erupted, on average, once every fifty years, with the last eruption in 1918. It is long overdue.

Katla is connected to Eyjafjallajökull, which erupted in 2010 and caused widespread disruption to air traffic, as well as changes in climate. Usually, Katla is triggered by an eruption here, usually going off within the decade afterwards. Kristín Jónsdóttir said in 2016 that it was ‘a matter of when, not if’ Iceland would face the wrath of Katla once more.

Katla means ‘Kettle’ in Icelandic, and many women are named after the volcano with it being one of the more popular girl’s names.

Geography and geology of Katla

Katla is located on Iceland’s South Coast, north of the village of Vík. Its peak is 1,512 metres (4,961 feet) above sea level, and its crater is 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) wide. The ice of Mýrdalsjökull is, 700 metres (2,300 feet) thick at certain points over it.

Because of this huge amount of ice, some smaller eruptions do not even break the surface. However, even these can be very dangerous, as they can still cause unexpected floods as the melted water seeps from under the glacier. One only needs to see the black sand desert of Sólheimasandur to see how much life can thrive in the glacial outwash plain under Katla.

Because of the floods caused by Katla, Iceland’s South Coast has very few settlements. Floods such as these have wiped out entire villages before.

The floods following the 1918 eruption were particularly powerful, clearing away huge swathes of land. The lava that followed, however, was so voluminous that it extended the southern coastline over five kilometres (eight miles) out to sea.

Though Eyjafjallajökull and Katla have a relationship of exploding in quick succession, they are part of different volcanic systems. Katla’s system has an area of 595 square kilometres (230 square miles), and is connected to the Eldgjá canyon.

Tours on Katla

Katla is beneath the peak of Mýrdalsjökull, which is surrounded by outlet glaciers, making tours on it few and far between - after all, it is very difficult to reach. Some helicopter tours, however, will make a landing here. Some super jeep tours also take the bumpy but beautiful path to the top.

It should be noted that there are ice caves above Katla, which are accessible for longer throughout the year than the ice caves at Vatnajökull. These ones, however, do not have blue ice.

Where to see Katla

Katla can be seen from the Ring Road, which encircles Iceland, by travelling along the South Coast, so long as the weather is clear. It will be visible for much of the drive, which also takes you passed features such as the waterfall Seljalandsfoss and the black sand beach of Reynisfjara.

It can also be viewed when visiting one of the glacier tongues of Mýrdalsjökull, such as Sólheimajökull, the most popular outlet for glacier hiking.

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).

Almannagjá is a gorge within Þingvellir National Park, which marks the edge of the North American tectonic plate. It is possible to hike through and has a beautiful waterfall within it.

Geology of Almannagjá

Almannagjá marks the boundary of the Mid-Atlantic Rift, which runs through Iceland. This rift is the space between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Nowhere in the country is this remarkable feature more distinct than in Þingvellir National Park. At different points within it, it is possible to see both cliffs that mark the ends of the continents, and when driving through it, you descend one of them and ascend the other.

The movements of the tectonic plates as they slowly pull away from each other give the park many distinctive features. It is littered with ravines, many of which are filled with crystal clear spring water (the most famous of these being the snorkelling and diving site Silfra) and it is coated in lava rock.

The movement of the plates also created Almannagjá. As the North American plate pulled west, it could no longer sustain its weight, causing what used to be the edge to break free of the continent in an earthquake. This left the Almannagjá gorge between the two segment.

The gorge varies in width, but at several points can be walked through. A waterfall tumbles in one part of it, called Öxaráfoss, which can easily be reached on foot.

History of Almannagjá

Almannagjá gorge has witnessed a great deal of Icelandic history. This is because Þingvellir itself was the original site of the world’s longest-running, ongoing parliament, the Alþing.

The lawspeakers of the Alþing would stand on a rock above Almannagjá gorge to read out the laws of the day to thousands of people, who would come annually to settle debates, exchange news, represent their families and clans (in the earliest days), and battle for dominance.

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。

Mýrdalsjökull is a glacier in the south of the Icelandic highlands. It is the country's fourth largest ice cap, covering nearly 600 square kilometres (232 square miles), and its highest peak is almost 1500 meters tall. It is most well-known for sitting atop the notorious and explosive volcano, Katla.

Mýrdalsjökull is visible from Route 1 on the South Coast, sitting to the north of the village of Vík. It is visited on some snowmobiling, ice caving and helicopter tours, and one of its glacial outlets, Sólheimajökull, is the most popular place in the country for ice-climbing and glacier hiking.

Eruptions beneath Myrdalsjokull

Since 2010, the world has known of the volcano beneath Eyjafjallajökull; after all, it halted European air travel for over a week and stumped news readers everywhere. Few, however, are aware of the much larger volcano right beside it.

Mýrdalsjökull conceals Katla, one of the country’s most active volcanoes, having erupted, on average, once every fifty years since 930 AD. Because of the glacier above it, these eruptions tend to cause enormous ash clouds. It is these ash clouds that lead to flights being grounded, crops and livestock poisoned, and have the potential to change the world’s climate.

The last major eruption beneath Katla was in 1918, in which such huge lahar floods occurred that the southern coastline was extended five kilometres outwards. This area is also very susceptible to glacial floods, or 'jökulhlaup', during eruptions, even when the lava does not break through the surface of the ice. These are as dangerous as the lava itself, having wiped out whole Icelandic villages before.

Historically, the area was little settled for this reason.

Katla is connected to the same volcanic system as Eyjafjallajökull and usually erupts violently a few years after Eyjafjallajökull does. As the ex-president, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson said in 2010:

‘The time for Katla to erupt is coming close… it is high time for European governments and airline authorities all over Europe and the world to start planning for the eventual Katla eruption’

So it is currently several years overdue. Katla is monitored heavily, and roads around it closed when seismic activity increases. All road closures around Iceland can be found on Road and Coastal Administration's website.

Tours on Myrdalsjokull

While there are no eruptions immediately imminent, tours continue to run onMýrdalsjökull, allowing visitors to enjoy the glacier. It is, for example, possible to snowmobile across its surface throughout the year and take ice caving tours beneath it from October to April, with departures from both Reykjavík and Vík.

Considering the ice caves under Vatnajökull glacier are usually only accessible from November to March, this provides a wider window of opportunity for travellers to Iceland outside of the depths of winter. It should be noted that the caves in Mýrdalsjökull do not have the same blue ice, however.

Tours around Myrdalsjokull

Mýrdalsjökull can be seen on all South Coast tours that reach Vík and beyond in clear weather. It can also be seen from above on helicopter tours that depart from Reykjavík.

The best perspectives of the glacier, however, can be found on the popular Fimmvörðuháls hiking trail, which goes between Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull. Part of this hike can be done in a day, or you can take the complete route from Þórsmörk to Skógar on a three-day trek

阿尔纳斯塔皮(Arnarstapi)是冰岛斯奈山半岛南海岸线上的一座小渔村，是进入斯奈菲尔冰川国家公园(Snæfellsjökull)的必经之路。海滨的古老优雅房屋与沿岸的奇诡海蚀岩石是小镇的人文与自然特色。

历史

阿尔纳斯塔皮小镇的历史可追溯一部古老的萨迦传说：Bárðar saga Snæfellsáss；这部发生在斯奈山半岛(Snæfellsnes)的萨迦以半人半魔的英雄为主人公，在故事结尾，他走入斯奈菲尔冰川，成为了这座半岛的守护神。

斯奈山半岛上多天然良港，半岛海域中鱼类充足。在挪威与丹麦统治冰岛的时期，阿尔纳斯塔皮小镇一直都是重要的商贸港口。十八、十九世纪时，丹麦在小镇上建设了众多基础设施，以供丹麦统治者使用，这也是冰岛最早兴建的一批建筑；例如小镇上的丹麦官员官邸就可追溯至十八世纪七十年代。

工业革命期间，劳动力与大机器集中于首都雷克雅未克地区，阿尔纳斯塔皮也与其他乡村渔港一样丧失了其贸易与渔业中心的地位，流失了大量人口。而1943年冰岛独立后，随着全国开始兴建基础设施，冰岛的旅游业也渐渐发展起来，阿尔纳斯塔皮小镇也再度得到了关注。

渔业与商业一直是小镇的核心产业，而旅行服务业则是小镇经济的核心。无论是租车自驾还是跟随旅行团到访斯奈山半岛，游客都一定会在可爱祥和的阿尔纳斯塔皮歇脚漫步，小镇上还开设有餐厅咖啡厅与酒店住宿，是冰岛西部的重要旅行中转站。

周围景点

阿尔纳斯塔皮小镇的海岸风光堪称一绝，无数经过海浪侵蚀的奇石鬼斧神工，引人遐思。例如Gatklettur巨石的中空造型就颇为独特，深受摄影爱好者的喜爱，夏季时还有无数海鸟栖息其上，以北极燕鸥与海鸥为最。在阿尔纳斯塔皮沿海漫步，是在斯奈山半岛旅行的必做之事。小镇附近的Hellnahraun熔岩原则是一处徒步胜地，古时的冰岛人则常常骑马穿行这片粗犷荒芜的广袤土地。

阿尔纳斯塔皮坐落于斯奈菲尔冰川国家公园的外缘。几个世纪以来，斯奈菲尔冰川火山的神秘之美也吸引了无数游客。斯奈菲尔冰川国家公园是冰岛的三大官方国家公园之一，集聚了Lóndrangar“怪物海岸”玄武岩柱、教会山(Kirjufell，也称草帽山)等自然壮景。

小镇附近还有两座洞穴：瓦汀舍利尔(Vatnshellir)与“唱歌洞”(Sönghellir)。游客可以参加洞穴旅行团，进入瓦汀舍利尔探秘火山熔岩奇观。Rauðfeldsgjá峡谷也是斯奈山半岛上的明星景点之一，游客可以进入峡谷缝隙中，探寻另一番洞天。

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。

Snæfellsjökull National Park is found on the tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and is one of three National Parks in Iceland. It is named after its crowning glacier and volcano.

Established in 2001, it is neither the oldest nor the largest National Park; those honours go to Þingvellir and Vatnajökull respectively. Within its borders, however, it has a wealth of sites for visitors to enjoy.

Features in Snæfellsjökull National Park

Snæfellsjökull National Park’s main feature is obviously the sub-glacial volcano Snæfellsjökull. This twin-peaked phenomenon is at the tip of the peninsula, and visible across Faxaflói Bay from Reykjavík on clear days.

It has inspired artists and writers for centuries. Most famously, it was the primary setting for the Jules Verne novel ‘A Journey to the Centre of the Earth’ and the Halldór Laxness novel ‘Christianity Beneath the Glacier’. Beyond its inspiration to artists, the site also provides adventure to thrill-seekers; it is a popular place for both glacier hiking and super jeep tours.

Another feature within the National Park is the Buðahraun lava field, which encircles the glacier. This moss-coated terrain gives the area a haunting, otherworldly air, especially when grey or snow-coated in the winter months. 

The coastline is also worthy of some time sightseeing; the beaches of Djúpalónssandur and Skarðsvík have fascinating geology, beautiful seascapes, and interesting histories. The Lóndrangar basalt fortress, however, is perhaps the most dramatic and picturesque example.

A final feature of the National Park is its lava caves. While most of these are inaccessible, you can take tours into Vatnshellir throughout summer.

Features Around Snæfellsjökull National Park 

Snæfellsjökull National Park is adjacent to Arnarstapi and Hellnar on its south, and Hellissandur and Ríf on its north, all historic fishing villages that have managed to preserve the old culture of the peninsula when it was Iceland’s trading hub. All four of these settlements have options for accommodation.

Within an hour of driving, it is possible to reach many other sites of Snæfellsnes. These include the second most defining mountain on the peninsula, Mount Kirkjufell; Ytri Tunga, a seal-watching beach; and Rauðfeldsgjá, a mightily impressive gorge that slices into a mountainside.

Credit: Wikimedia, Creative Commons. Photo by Kkaefer.

Faxi is a wide, serene waterfall in South Iceland. It can be found in the Tungufljót River.

Faxi and the Golden Circle

Faxi falls is approximately twelve kilometres (seven miles) away from Gullfoss and Geysir, two incredibly popular attractions on the Golden Circle. It is thus easy to detour from these for one extra attraction, and extend a day out.

Some guided Golden Circle tours also promise an extra stop here.

Gullfoss, otherwise known as the Golden Waterfall, is 32 metres (105 feet) tall, falling in two tiers into a beautiful canyon. It is fed by the Hvíta River, which is one of the most popular rivers for rafting in the country, accessible for novices.

Though more powerful and dramatic than Faxi, it has less of its serenity, and there are usually much bigger crowds at Gullfoss.

Geysir, meanwhile, is a geothermal area that, as its name suggests, is home to geysers. The most active of these, Strokkur, erupts to heights of up to forty metres (131 feet) every ten minutes or so.

Geysir itself has been inactive for the past few years, only going off sporadically. The area is also home to many fumaroles, hot-springs and mud-pits.

The final site of the Golden Circle, Þingvellir National Park, is a little further away, but still well worth the visit. This location sits directly between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, in the Mid-Atlantic Rift, and is an oasis of beautiful lava landscapes, forest and crystal clear streams.

This location is also a historical centre, being home to the original site of the world’s longest-running parliament. Icelanders formed it here in 930 AD, before much of the rest of Europe had even starting thinking about representative democracies.

The Golden Circle is as close to an essential-Icelandic experience there is, and Faxi is a perfect addition to extend the day.

Activities at Faxi

Photo Credit: Callie Reed

Hiking through the countryside around Faxi waterfall is a pleasure. Many Icelandic horses and a wealth of birdlife can be expected in summer. The area also draws those who enjoy salmon fishing, and the falls is pregnant with them.

Although it is not particularly rapid, kayaking and rafting are banned here. As mentioned, Hvíta is the rafting river of the area.

A restaurant stands on site, where guests can enjoy lunch with a beautiful view.

Other detours from the Golden Circle

The Golden Circle only takes approximately half a day to traverse if travelling from Reykjavík. There are thus many sites, alongside Faxi, that visitors could add to their sightseeing journey if travelling alone.

Those seeking relaxation and rejuvenation could enjoy the Fontana Spa at Laugarvatn, or else the secret lagoon at  Flúðir. Those interest in culture could see the eco village Sólheimar, the historical settlement of Skálholt or else the greenhouses and horses at Friðheimar.

There are also many activities to be had in the area, such as snorkelling in Silfra, snowmobiling on Langjökull, or river-rafting (in summer).

A comprehensive list of detours can be found on this site.

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黑沙滩位于冰岛西部的斯奈山半岛(Snæfellsnes)，黝黑的卵石、陡峭的断崖都是火山运动的产物。

形成历史与景点特色

在斯奈山半岛还是活跃的商贸中心时，Djúpalónssandur黑沙滩的所在地与布迪尔(Búðir)与海德纳尔(Hellnar)等小镇一样，原本也是一座繁荣的渔村，但后来渐渐被废弃；如今这些渔港小镇虽也有人居住，但大多都作为游客中转站而活跃在斯奈山半岛的经济版图上。

黑沙滩上的四块古老“举石”见证着昔日的捕鱼历史。四块石头重量依次递增，从23公斤～155公斤不等；过去的渔民海员就以这些石头来测量自己的力量。四块石头还各有其生动有趣的名字：Amlóði(无用)、Hálfdrættingur(弱儒)、Hálfsterkur(半力)、Fullsterkur(全力)。来到海滩的游客常常也会比试一番，但一定要注意安全、量力而行。

1948年，一艘从格里姆斯比(Grimsby)出发的英国拖网渔船Epine GY 7号在海滩处失事，14位船员不幸遇难、5名船员幸存。船只的遗骸与零件就散落在沙滩上，在海浪、风暴与日光的侵蚀下锈迹斑斑。

周围景点

斯奈山半岛被誉为“冰岛缩影”，极富冰岛特色的地质胜景俯拾即是。Djúpalónssandur黑沙滩的黝黑卵石以及矗立海中的巨型熔岩构造怪物海岸Lóndrangar都诞生自火山爆发，风浪的侵蚀也将海崖与岩柱塑造成鬼斧神工的奇妙形态；从黑沙滩上，还可眺望到斯奈菲尔冰川火山(Snæfellsjökull)的磅礴身影。

Djúpalón(深湖)与Svörtulón(黑湖)两座宁静的湖泊就掩映于黑沙滩岩丛之后，黑沙滩所在海湾的名称就取自“深湖”。过去的人们一直认为两座湖泊深不可测，而科学研究则表明，湖泊深度仅为5米。

被熔岩环围的静美湖泊尽显冰岛自然之美，许多冰岛人也相信它们能够展露神迹；在12世纪末时，“黑湖”曾被Guðmundur góði主教祝圣，此后人们一直认为黑湖的湖水具有疗愈疾病的神奇功效。

Söngklettur“唱歌洞”也位于黑沙滩附近。这座熔岩洞穴造型奇诡、颜色别致，黝黑中渗透着殷红。在民间传说中，这样的洞穴就是精灵矮人们的教堂，而Kerling、Lóndrangar等岩柱形态似人，则被认为是由巨人石化而成。

注意事项

在游览Djúpalónssandur黑沙滩时，一定要注意远离海浪。与冰岛南岸的雷尼斯黑沙滩(Reynisfjara)一样，来自大西洋的汹涌海浪时刻舔舐着沙滩，隐藏着巨大的危险。游客不能进入海中游泳；在背对海洋拍照时，也要记得与海浪保持距离，在风浪天气中尤其需要小心。

黑沙滩的卵石美丽而圆润，但黑沙滩属于受法律保护的自然保护区，游客不得随意采集沙滩上的卵石；带走卵石是违法行为。

Efstidalur is a farm that holds a hotel, cafe, restaurant, and arguably the best ice-cream in Iceland.

Facilities at Efstidalur

Efstidalur is primarily a dairy farm, run by four siblings and their families; it has been in their family for generations. Recently, it has become more focused on tourism, with people coming to see horses and enjoy the facilities.

With both a restaurant and ice cream barn, it is a perfect place to stop for refreshment. Efstidalur is the embodiment of ‘farm-to-table’ living, with the meat, dairy and vegetables either grown here or nearby.

There is also a hotel on site, with everything from twin to family rooms. The guests will have access to a hot tub, and are welcome to play with the dogs, horses and cows that make Efstidalur their home.

The hotel has beautiful views over the surrounding farmlands and mountains.

Horses can be rented from the farm for those who want to roam the idyllic countryside in an unconventional way.

Those interested in Icelandic agriculture can learn here about how farms survived the brutal Icelandic climate (to say nothing of the regular eruptions) and how national food items such as Skyr yoghurt is produced.

Sites surrounding Efstidalur

Located on the Golden Circle route, Efstidalur is within easy reach of some of the country’s most popular sites. These include Gullfoss, the iconic waterfall, Geysir, the geyser which leant all others their name, and Þingvellir National Park, a site of historic and geological wonder.

Those who want to dip into a pool can do so at Laugarvatn and Flúðir, for the Fontana Spa and Secret Lagoon respectively.

For those self-driving this tourist trail, therefore, Efstidalur is a great place to stop for a snack, meal, horseback ride, or just for a greeting with some gorgeous animals.

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.

南岸是冰岛最为著名的旅游观光线路之一，与黄金圈不相上下。

自位于西南角的首都雷克雅未克（Reykjavik）起，南海岸线一直向东延伸至杰古沙龙冰河湖（Jökulsárlón），一路美景不断，瀑布、火山、黑沙滩、冰川点缀其间，秀丽与浩瀚之景并存。

地理、自然与野生生态

一号公路串联起的南海岸线是冰岛南部最容易到达的地区，以低地地貌为主，如牧场、海湾、沼泽、河口、黑沙滩。

表层土地之下，是一片面积庞大的熔岩地，名为Þjórsárhraun。熔岩地的边缘一直延伸至海岸线外的数百米处，成为了南岸低地与海洋之间的缓冲区，阻止了大西洋的海浪直接侵袭低地土地。这也致使南岸地区没能形成深邃的峡湾，是冰岛唯一没有峡湾的沿海地区。

一年四季，都可以在南海岸看到多种鸟类。淡水鸟通常会在沼泽地与河口附近筑巢，海鸟则聚居在悬崖和岩石之上。雷尼斯岩柱群（Reynisdrangar）、迪霍拉里（Dyrhólaey）海岬都是海鸟们的聚居地，比如每年会在五月至八月之间回到冰岛筑巢的北极海鹦（Puffin）。还有不少鸟则是一年四季在冰岛长居，如白嘴潜鸟以及各类海鸥、鸭子。

野生海豹也经常聚居在南岸沿岸，以杰古沙龙冰河湖和钻石冰沙滩（Diamond Beach）为首。在冰岛旅行，一定别忘了在观光时多留意海面，或许还会发现鲸鱼和海豚的身影。

南岸著名旅游景点

冰岛南岸以多样化的自然美景闻名，每天都有成千上万的游客到访此地区，领略冰岛的自然之美。

从冰岛首都雷克雅未克出发，沿着一号公路南下，首先会看到两座著名瀑布：塞里雅兰瀑布（Seljalandsfoss）和斯科加瀑布（Skógafoss）。在瀑布的上方，则是“恶名昭彰”的艾雅法拉火山（Eyjafjallajökull，其上是同名的埃亚菲亚德拉冰盖）。行驶途中，在天气明媚的日子，还可以看到远远矗立于海中的西人岛（Westman Islands）。

一路南行，还将看到米尔达斯冰原（Mýrdalsjökull），在其下方沉睡的则是冰岛最活跃的火山之一－卡特拉火山（Katla）。米尔达斯冰原的分支索尔黑马冰川（Sólheimajökull），则是冰岛最著名的冰川徒步地点之一。

继续前行，将到达聚居着大量海鸟的迪霍拉里海岬。即使不在海鹦繁殖的夏季造访，海岬魅力不减。一路开车至海岬之巅，可俯瞰南岸海岸线，各异的岩石、巨大的海蚀拱门映入眼帘，南岸黑沙滩与北大西洋的壮阔被尽收眼底。

著名的雷尼斯黑沙滩（Reynisfjara）与冰岛最南端的小镇维克镇（Vík）毗邻。在黑沙滩正对面的海上矗立着传说中由巨怪所变的雷尼斯岩柱群。

欣赏美景之余，在黑沙滩一定要留意危险的巨浪，不要接近海边，从而避开潜在的危机。翻开地图，会发现南极洲与雷尼斯黑沙滩之间没有任何陆地，不断加力的海浪威力可想而知。

经过维克镇之后，将抵达一片荒漠黑沙平原Skeiðarársandur，随后进入瓦特纳冰川国家公园（Vatnajökull National Park）园区。国家公园从南一直延伸至北，南侧是欧洲最大的冰川瓦特纳冰川、无数的冰舌，以及著名的杰古沙龙冰河湖。

这些壮美之景都可以通过一号公路到达，而它们还只是冰岛南岸美景的冰山一角。

值得一游的南岸景点数不胜数：广袤的Sólheimasandur黑沙滩上的DC-3飞机残骸、瓦特纳冰川国家公园的斯卡夫塔山自然保护区（Skaftafell Nature Reserve）、隐藏在塞里雅兰瀑布几百米外的秘密瀑布（Gljúfrabúi）、杰古沙龙冰河湖对岸的钻石冰沙滩，以及附近的Fjallsárlón冰河湖，都是冰岛南岸不容错过的美丽景致。