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Þingvallavatn
Filling much of the rift plain, Þingvallavatn is Iceland’s largest lake, at 84 sq km. Pure glacial water from Langjökull filters through bedrock for 40km before emerging here. It’s joined by the hot spring Vellankatla, which spouts from beneath the lava field on the northeastern sh
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Seltjarnarnes
Seltjarnarnes, 5km west of Reykjavík centre, is a coastal area that feels a world away. With 106 visiting species recorded, the offshore island of Grótta is a haven for birdwatching and boasts a red-and-white lighthouse. It is accessible at low tide, but is closed May to July to pr
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Hverir
The magical, ochre-toned world of Hverir is a lunar-like landscape of mud cauldrons, steaming vents, radiant mineral deposits and piping fumaroles. Belching mudflaps and the powerful stench of sulphur may not sound enticing, but Hverir’s ethereal allure grips every passer-by. Safe
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Hengifoss
Crossing the bridge across Lagarfljót on Rte 931, you’ll reach the parking area for Hengifoss, Iceland’s second-highest waterfall. The falls plummet 118m into a photogenic brown-and-red-striped boulder-strewn gorge.Getting to Hengifoss requires a return walk of one to two hours (2.
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Brákin
Þorgerður Brák was Egils nursemaid, thought to be a Celtic slave. In one of the more dramatic moments in Egils Saga, she heroically saves Egils life (from an attempted crime of passion, by his own father, Skallagrímur Kveldúlfsson), and jumps into the sea to escape the enraged Skal
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Langjökull Ice Cave
This enormous (300m long) tunnel and series of caves head into Langjökull glacier at 1260m above sea level. The glistening, LED-lit tunnel and caves opened in 2015 and contain exhibitions, a cafe and even a small chapel for those who want to tie the knot inside a glacier. Tours can
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Helgafell
About 5km south of Stykkishólmur, the holy mountain Helgafell (73m) was once venerated by worshippers of the god Þór. Although quite small, the mountain was so sacred in Saga times that elderly Icelanders would seek it out near the time of their death. Today, locals believe that wi
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Víkin Maritime Museum
Based appropriately in a former fish-freezing plant, this small museum celebrates the country’s seafaring heritage, focusing on the trawlers that transformed Iceland’s economy. Your ticket also allows you aboard coastguard ship Óðínn by guided tour (11am, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm, reduced
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Þórbergssetur
This cleverly crafted museum (its inspired exterior looks like a shelf of books) pays tribute to the most famous son of this sparsely populated region – writer Þórbergur Þórðarson (1888–1974), who was born at Hali in Suðursveit. Þórbergur was a real maverick (with interests spannin
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Skriðuklaustur
Head south from Hengifoss waterfall for 5km to reach Skriðuklaustur, the photogenic site of a 16th-century monastery and the home of an Icelandic author feted by the Third Reich. The unusual black-and-white turf-roofed building was built in 1939 by Gunnar Gunnarsson (1889–1975), an
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Goðafoss
Goðafoss (Waterfall of the Gods) rips straight through the Bárðardalur lava field along Rte 1. Although smaller and less powerful than some of Iceland’s other chutes, it’s definitely one of the most beautiful. Take the path behind the falls for a less-crowded viewpoint. The falls p
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Icelandic Emigration Center
Several restored harbourside buildings have been turned into a museum exploring the reasons behind Icelanders’ emigration to the North America, their hopes for a new life, and the reality of conditions when they arrived. Incredibly, this small country lost 16,000 emigrants from 187
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Lofthellir
The dramatic lava cave at Lofthellir is a stunning destination, with magnificent natural ice sculptures (ice trolls?) dominating the interior.Although its one of Mývatn’s highlights, the cave is on private property and can only be accessed on a half-day tour run by Saga Travel . Th
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Leirhnjúkur
Krafla’s most impressive, and potentially most dangerous, attraction is the Leirhnjúkur crater and its solfataras, which originally appeared in 1727, starting out as a lava fountain and spouting molten material for two years before subsiding.In 1975, the Krafla Fires began with a s
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Dimmuborgir
The giant jagged lava field at Dimmuborgir (literally ‘Dark Castles’) is one of the most fascinating flows in the country. A series of nontaxing, colour-coded walking trails runs through the easily anthropomorphised landscape. The most popular path is the easy Church Circle (2.3km)
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Hverfell
Dominating the lava fields on the eastern edge of Mývatn is the classic tephra ring Hverfell (also called Hverfjall). This near-symmetrical crater appeared 2700 years ago in a cataclysmic eruption of the existing Lúdentarhíð complex. Rising 463m from the ground and stretching 1040m
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Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum
The farmstead at Bjarnarhöfn is the region’s leading producer of hákarl (fermented shark meat), a traditional Icelandic dish. The museum has exhibits on the history of this culinary curiosity, along with the familys fishing boats and processing tools. A video explains the butcherin
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Helgustaðanáma
The remains of the world’s largest spar quarry lies east of Eskifjörður. Iceland spar (silfurberg in Icelandic) is a type of calcite crystal that is completely transparent and can split light into two parallel beams. It was a vital component in early microscopes; large quantities w
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Hornstrandir Nature Reserve
Craggy mountains, precarious sea cliffs and plunging waterfalls make up Hornstrandir, one of Europe’s last true wilderness areas, covering some of the most extreme parts of Iceland. It’s a fantastic destination for hiking, with challenging terrain and excellent opportunities for sp
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Krafla
The colourful, sulphurous mud hole Leirhnjúkur is Kraflas prime attraction. From there you can meander round the Krafla Caldera , where several different lava flows overlie each other; some from the 1984 eruptions are still smoking.Nearby Stóra-Víti is a 320m-wide explosion crater
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