From Lake Myvatn to Seydisfjordur
Day 6, 7th August 2023
To reach the east coast of Iceland we had to drive past the Hverir hot spring area which we had visited the evening before. This time we stopped on the brow of the hill overlooking Myvatn to take in one of the many geothermal energy plants on this island. Iceland is practically energy self sufficient, and the cheapness of its energy resources meant it was an ideal location for the aluminium smelting industry on which much of the wealth of the country now rests.
We turned off Route 1 to drive to Dettifoss in the Vatnajokull National Park. This is the second most powerful waterfall in Europe and is enormous! The carpark was almost full by the time we arrived and there were many people on the lower ridge getting thoroughly wet in the spray from the waterfall. It's a long walk from the carpark and I had taken my tripod with me, only to discover that the viewing platforms were metal gratings so nowhere to stand a tripod. Anyway, I got quite absorbed by watching a colourful rainbow develop in size and spread all the way up the hill side.
There is a second walking route in this park, this time to Selfoss. We were there when the early evening light was at its best.
More than anything, the geology of this park was fascinating in itself. Whether you are looking at black sand beaches of huge basalt columns, all these represent lava which has cooled at different rates and then been exposed to the elements.
After driving further north along Route 862, we entered the Asbyrgi Canyon, a delightful green leafy space surrounded by the huge walls of a horseshoe-shaped canyon. Naturally there are many myths about its formation. Asbyrgi means 'Shelter of the Gods' and the Viking settlers believed it was formed by Sleipnir, Odin's eight-legged horse from Norse mythology. Geologists however state that it was created from a catastrophic flood from the Jokulsa glacial river. It is probably best seen from above but unfortunately you cannot fly drones in the national parks unless you have a permit, so we could not get a better view.
Finally, we drove over the hills and down into the coastal town of Seydisfjordur and stayed in Hotel Aldan and had one of the best dinners of the trip.
