Ali's Incredible World of travel in Iceland 2006: Day 5

Start location: Akureyri (North central Iceland)
End location: Lake Myvatn (Northeast Iceland)

Route travelled:
North from Akureyri on Road 1 & drive along the coastal road overlooking Eyjafjordur. Passed through the wooded valley of Fnjoskadalur. Stopped off at the Godafoss Waterfall. Detoured on Road 845 to Husavik before heading back to drive around Lake Myvatn on Road 1.

Accommodation: Hotel Reynihlid

Sites visited:
Godafoss Waterfall - translates to ‘Fall of the Gods’. The year 1000 brought unrest to Iceland, as Christians sought to break away from the Pagan Althing. The Pagan chieftain, Porgeir of Ljosavatn, was the law speaker. To avoid civil war he declared new laws that all would be christened but some pagan practices would be tolerated. To show his commitment, carved images of gods were cast into the waterfall.
Dimmuborgir - translates to ‘Black Castles’. A vast 2,000 year old field of contorted volcanic pillars, some as high as 65ft.
Lake Myvatn - Iceland’s number one tourist attraction outside of the ‘Golden Circle’. Major breeding ground which makes it more protected than the countrys National Park. It is an oasis on the edge of the Northern deserts.
Hverarond - Steam & mud craters formed in this field during the Myvatn fires of 1724 & new fissures being created in April 1728. Temperatures have been measured at 290 Celsius. Perhaps one of Iceland’s most infernal & fascinating sights. Walkways run through dozens of bubbling mud pools & steaming vents. The ground is particularly thin & likely to crumble in many places.
Krafla area - named after one of the mountains in the region & the heart of most recent volcanic activity. Pipes from the Krafla geothermal power plant create metal doorways to the area. Construction began in 1973 & included the drilling of many boreholes. This work was considered to be the trigger of the eruptions that started 1975 (the first since the 1700‘s). Between 2 - 5 miles below the Krafla field lies a magma reservoir which is the source of the volcanic activity in the area. The 1970’s activity, also named ‘Krafla fires’ lasted for ten years with 15 eruptions, none of which headed to the villages. Viti is a colourful explosion crater (now thought to be inactive) 1,050ft wide. The roads in the area regulary rise, fall & crack due to the changes in the landscape.

Photo notes: 112 - 139

112. View of Akureyri from east of Eyjafjordur