... which is best seen next to a satellite image from Google.
The first day covered 425 km from Reykjavik to the capital of northern Iceland, Akureyri, so a substantial drive. We worked our way beside, across and, in one case, under many fjords and valleys and over a few mountain ranges as well. Spectacular scenery, but very few trees. The few trees that were here were used for housing and firewood. Now the Icelanders are on a serious re-vegetation program to develop forests.
The landscape is dominated by wide valleys with ridges in between. These ridges show successive layers of volcanics, probably basalt. The farmland looks fairly productive in the valleys, but the harsh winter must slow down growth.
This fjord has a tunnel under it which saves the locals a drive of about an hour. I wonder what the efficiency experts have to say about tunnels v bridges? Seems like a good idea to me in such a harsh environment.
We visited a volcanic crater in the northwest of the country, named Grabrok, although in some spots it's called Ljosufjoll. It's rather dormant at 4500 years since the last eruption, however part of the same system has erupted more recently.
Quite a climb but great views. So windy it would have blown the froth off my beer, if I'd had a beer. Rather cold as well with about 5 layers of clothing on.
This small church is built from driftwood and covered outside with turf. The driftwood is well seasoned and, surprisingly, is not decaying. The turf, which is replaced every 20-30 years acts as an insulator.
The interior, lined and fitted out with driftwood. Yes, it is small.
Stopped for the night in Akureyri.
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