Day 3

Geothermal area of Nesjavellir
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Up a 7am to prepare for our 8hr tour with Iceland Excurions to the natural and historical sites of Gullfoss, Geysir and Thingvellir.

First stop however, was a visit to one of Iceland's main Geothermal plants at Nesjavellir for a short lecture and tour on the uniqueness of Iceland's energy supply. As you drive through this area, you can see shoots of steam rising up from the land which indicate geothermal activity and which the good people of Iceland have utilised to provide hot water, heat and electricity to practically all homes and facilities. An amazing feat really considering the rest of the world struggles with declining natural resources and fights over the oil fields.

Watch out - HOT water about!

Tectonic plate boundaries
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Then we continued onwards along a scenic, but twisty, small road, towards Thingvellir National Park, crossing from the Northern Atlantic tectonic plate over to the Eurasian plate in the process!! These plates are pulling apart by about 2 inches every year apparently. Thingvellir is where the Icelandic parliament Althingi was founded in 930A.D, which makes it the oldest still-functioning parliament in the world!!

After this it was onwards to the amazing double waterfall of Gullfoss. For such a powerful glacial waterfall, I was amazed at how close to the edge you can go with nothing but a rope about a foot off the ground as protection! But wow, nothing prepares you for the sound, the feel of the mist and the sight of these falls. They mesmerise you!

Thingvellir passage
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Next stop was Geysir and Strokkur, where the geothermal area is literally exploding hot jets of water skywards. Be prepared for the rotten egg smells and don't be stupid and 'test' the temperature of the water pools with your finger (unless you can live without it!!). It's amazing to watch the build-up of the water before it shoots upwards. Oh, and don't stand downwind of it either - you will bet drenched in boiling water if you do!

After quick stop at Skalholt church, the ancient seat of the Icelandic bishops, we headed homewards, tired but truly fanscinated but the natural phenomena we had just seen.