My neighbor Jim said that when they went to Iceland they only had 4 hours of sunlight, so they had to pack everything in to such a short day. We had 23 hours of sun and could pack a lot of things in!
On day two we took a bus tour called the golden circle. We passed the geothermal plant which supplies hot water (see all the black pipes leading away from the plant) to all of Iceland.
Next we went to Kerið Crater — a stunning volcanic crater lake!
From the below satellite view you can clearly see:
- The oval-shaped caldera with its distinctive deep red/rust volcanic rock walls — caused by iron-rich minerals in the basalt
- The dark blue-green lake sitting at the bottom of the crater
- The walking path that circles the rim
- A small car park visible to the upper left where visitors enter
- Route 35 (Biskupstungnabraut) running past it — part of the famous Golden Circle route
Some interesting facts:
- About 3,000 years old — relatively young by geological standards
- Roughly 180 ft deep, 550 ft wide, and 900 ft long
- Unlike many craters, Kerið is thought to have formed when a volcanic cone collapsed inward after its magma emptied, rather than from an explosion
- Björk famously performed a concert on a floating raft in the crater lake in 2004
In order to build a road they dig out several feet of lava rock, then backfill with something that will drain well and be smooth.
Next along the golden circle is a great waterfall.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Video out the bus window showing the countryside, lava, snow, and steam.