Amazing Drive in Iceland, Part One, May 22

There are only about 3 hours of darkness!  I got up at both midnight and 4 and it was light out.  Strange!  After a great Mark breakfast, we hit the road and drove all day...about 10 hours!  We have had amazing days on this trip...today is toward the top.  The sky was blue, although it was chilly and windy...probably in the low 40s, but it did not diminish the staggering beauty at all.

 

We drove first to Thingvellir National Park, a cultural, historical and geographically significant area here.  Historically, it is the site of the first parliament, the Althing, established in 930.  The place was chosen as it was convenient for the chiefs to get there, all within a 17 day journey.  It met in Pingvellir until 1798.  Geographically, it is where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet.  There is an amazing ridge which moves about 2 centimeters each year.  It is very active.  Plus, Pingvallavatn lake, Iceland's largest lake is in the park.  Everywhere were beautiful colors.. Blue sky, various blues in the water, gleaming white snow, bleak brown slopes, green slopes....

Next, we visited Geysir, a place not unlike Yellowstone with boiling hot water, mud pots and geysirs. The great Geysir here was the first ever described in print.  It goes dormant for to es and, when there have been earthquakes, becomes active.  We were lucky to be able to watch the building up process close up and to see two eruptions.  It shoots up about 70 meters, so hard to photograph from where we stood.  We had cafeteria food there and then went on to Gulfoss, or Golden Falls.

Gulfoss is a powerful waterfall that falls on two stages as the might Hvita River takes a turn into a steep cavern.  When you approach you don't see the falls, although you hear them.  It looks as if the river disappears until you get closer.  It was mesmerizing.

And, that was only half of the day!