If I Were Going...: The End of the Trip

On our last day in Iceland, we headed west again, stopping at Stjórnarfoss, a waterfall we hadn't seen the day before. This one is unlike most of the others in that it winds through a gorge in multiple steps.

This is the bottom

Then, we returned early to Jökulsárlón for more photography during the daylight.

A dirty iceberg

We took a boat tour that was a bit disappointing because we didn’t go very far back into the lagoon.

Amphibious vehicles are just like the Duck Tours in Boston

Other boats did go much further back - one to the glacier's edge - so it my have just been our driver. We did, however, get to taste the glacial ice and view icebergs up close.

One of the interesting things about the glacier and the icebergs is that Vatnajökull is a temperate glacier, meaning that it is just about 32 degrees. This makes for rapid melting and calving.

A close view of a big iceberg

Fortunately, just as the day before, the weather cleared a little at Jökulsárlón, giving us a better view of the glacial (but not enough to see the volcano).

Better views

We posed with some of the big icebergs ...

Great backdrop; Photo: Scott Stevens

Another fabulous day

... marveled at the pool ...

The glacial lagoon

And, then, went over to the "Diamond Beach" where the icebergs travel out to sea ...

Exploring a phenomenon

... often getting beached in the process.

Ice litters the beach until it melts or is washed to sea

After that, we went to the other side of the lagoon at Fjallsjökull.

So much ice!

Another interesting fact: Vatnajökull wasn't formed during the Ice Age. It is only about 2,500 years old and many of the glacial tongues are about 1,000 years old. It is melting so quickly, that it is expected to be gone in less than 200 years.

Nice reflection

At Fjallsjökull, we climbed around and even sat on beached icebergs.

It's safe because it's beached; I wouldn't do this on a floating berg

I came across a very uplifting rock -- glaciers do some cool things.

My heart is in Iceland

At this point, the day was gorgeous.

What a difference from the day before

And, we took advantage of it ...

On top of the world

On the way back, we stopped at the beach at Vik and I am so glad we did. When we stopped the day before at Reynisdrangar, I thought that was the black sand beach about which I had read. But, it was black stone. Vik is black sand. Damp, black sand that looks like crushed Oreos.

Black beach, white rock

Then, we headed back, stopping again at the iconic waterfalls ...

Skogafoss

... hoping for better light (but, we didn't get it) ...

Sejalandfoss

Both falls were much increased in volume from the rain. Along the way, we passed an area where there are about 200 manmade caves in the lava cliffs ...