Friday, August 20, 2010

More holiday photos.

We told mum we will let her have our blog again today. The Friday Flashback should be back again next week. So it is over to mum.


The second stop on the cruise was at Akureyri also in Iceland. It was another dull day, but at least it didn't rain and was warmer.

The scenery cruising up the fjord was lovely.

After a while the mist started to lift.

This was our first view of the town as we approached the harbour. You can see Akureyri church, just left of the centre of the photo. This is another Lutheran church and can be seen from most places in the town.

We took a coach tour and the first stop was Godafoss which means Falls of the Gods.

Then it was on to Lake Myvatn which is the fourth largest lake in Iceland. There are said to be more species of duck living and breeding there than anywhere else in the world. Most of them seemed to be in hiding while we were there.

By the lake were pseudo craters. These craters were not caused by lava erupting from them, but by steam explosions when burning lava reached the lake.

There were lava formations wherever we looked.

We walked down a trail to Dimmuborgir which means dark castles. It was formed when a huge lava flow covered the marshes and made the marsh boil and the vapour formed the lava pillars. The lava lake was thought to be over 30 feet deep.

The American and Eurasian tectonic plates can be seen by Dimmuborgir. We were expecting to see a huge crevasse. Ivor is stood on one side of it. If he had straddled it, he would have had his feet on the tectonic plates of two different continents.
This is about the only place in the world above sea level where the tectonic plates can be easily seen. They are very slowly moving apart.

This is looking down on Dimmuborgir from a higher viewpoint.

After that we went to the boiling mudpots at Hverir. This is an old bore hole that has been covered in by rocks.

The fumarole field is full of vents from which volcanic gas escapes.

Boiling mud can be seen in the pots and the sulphurous smell from them is quite overpowering!

Then it was time for the coach to go back to the ship with a last look at Lake Myvatn, but still no ducks.
This was our last stop in Iceland. Next stop Norway.

31 comments:

  1. So very pretty, but the Falls of the Gods look amazing!

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  2. LOVE your vacation (holiday) pictures. I rarely see other parts of Iowa, let alone different countries! Thanks for sharing.

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  3. WOW so pretty and very cool! The Falls of the Gods, yeah, that is lovely.
    Such cool pics. Thanks for sharing E + F's mum!
    Very exciting adventure!

    bonks for a pleasant Friday and a serene week-end

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  4. Oh my Goodness!! I am sooo jelous, just about every single one of your pictures was beautiful!!! i wouldn't have been able to sleep from not ewanting to miss a single view.
    wow!! beautiful! :)

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  5. What a fabulous landscape. It reminds me of Hawaii's volcanoes. my Mom's family is from Norway...I'm excited to see the photos!
    My Grandma could swear in Norwegian quite impressively...

    momKat Trish

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  6. What a gorgeous trip. You are giving the Woman ideas and I do not like that.

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  7. WOW! WOW! WOW! Mum says that's a part of the world she'd love to visit!

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  8. Those are great pics. Especially where the tectonic plates are showing. Very cool. TY for sharing.

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  9. Your parents had a great holiday, we love seeing all the photos and learning about the places they visited...kisses sweet boys...Calle, Halle, Sukki

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  10. Beautiful pictures! THat was a wonderful tour

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  11. We love the photo of Ivor at the edge of the plates meeting. What a really unique experience! Did they tell you how thick the plates are at this point. We know soil must have fallen in the opening but could you feel any of the geothermal activity coming from the fissure?

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  12. P.S. We love you boys. Cuddled and kisses from us.
    We love how you introduce your mum.

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  13. What striking scenery! It will be interesting to see your pictures of Norway too.

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  14. It's really terrific to see these photos! Maybe mum and dad need a travel blog. ;-)

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  15. What beautiful scenery!! And we love the Falls of the Gods!

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  16. Such beautiful photos! It looks like your Mum and Dad had a great time!

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  17. Gosh those are great pictures. I love the part about the plates. I have to agree the Falls of Gods is just amazing. They are all great pictures. Too bad the ducks wouldn't make an appearance. Looking forward to Norway. Take care you two boys. Have a great day.

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  18. My mum is reading with interest because her and dad want to go to Iceland soon.

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  19. Loved your mum's photos of Iceland - is that volcano still erupting and causing chaos or is it dormant for now.
    Loved that Akureyri Church - like the simple clean lines look.

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  20. We've always heard Iceland was beautiful now we know!! What amazing pictures and vistas.

    Eric and Flynn thank you for sharing the blog with Mom.

    Happy Weekend to you two handsome mancats,
    Madi

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  21. Those photos are amazing. Mom did a baltic cruise once, but didn't go to Iceland! The boiling mudpots are cool. Wait...boiling is hot isn't it????

    Sniffie and the Florida Furkids

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  22. Awesome pictures...loved seeing more about iceland. Can't wait to see more of your adventures.

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  23. Wowie!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a wonderful travel log. Mama is impatiently waiting to get to Norway now!!!!!

    Love to all of you from all of us.

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  24. Awesome pictures! Your scenic shots really capture the feel of the place. (They sure like their churches big in Iceland!)
    It's so funny, when I saw the picture of Eric and Flynn's dad I automatically started scanning the ground looking for orangie goodness. We can't wait to see what happened next!

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  25. Iceland is very interesting.
    Wow I never knew all those places were there...the two Teutonic plates was fascintating.

    Eric and Flynn thank you for letting your Mom share those holiday pictures.

    They're gorgeous.

    purrin

    xo
    Abby

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  26. Looks wonderful.. Thank ou for letting mum show us.. Hugs GJ xx

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  27. Wow what a cool trip that looks like - we have never seen anythign like those boiling mud pits. Such an interesting and unique place to visit. We can't wait to hear about Norway!

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Thanks for commenting!