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Saving the best for last...

Wow, today was a whirlwind! So many awesome things to see in one day, including a volcanic crater, a geyser, a waterfall, a rift between two continental tectonic plates, a national park, a glacier, a huge blue lake, and more! 
 This is a volcanic crater with a lake at the bottom. Yes, the water really is that blue!


 This is the "Golden Falls," the 2nd largest waterfall in Iceland. It is not super big, but at its full strength, it has just as much water falling down per second as Niagara Falls.



Those aren't just clouds sitting above the mountains... that a glacier! The second-largest glacier in Iceland, to be exact. This is just a small section of it.
 This is the "Geysir" area, which reminded me a lot of Yellowstone. This geyser erupts every 5 minutes, and the area around it is filled with steam, more geysers, etc.
 I climbed a nearby ridge to see the geyser from a distance. You get a view of the countryside from here, too.


 Next stop: one of Iceland's National Parks! Again, the water really is that blue, and it's amazing.

 The national park sits on the boundary where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet. This big fissure is where the two plates have pulled apart from one another. Because they are pulling apart, Iceland is actually growing about 2 cm each year!

 This spot in the national park is called the Parliamentary Seat. The first Icelandic democratic parliament was established at this spot along the ridge in 930, and Iceland thus holds the record for having the oldest surviving parliament in the world. 

 Another view of the ridge along the plates.
Finished the day off with some Icelandic yogurt and chocolate.
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Well, that's a wrap, folks. It's been an amazing, unforgettable, life-changing adventure. I've learned a lot about other people, other countries, and about myself. The world is a beautiful place full of diverse people and cultures. There are so many things we can learn from each other, which is why traveling is so great. It creates empathy, understanding, and connection between us, and helps us realize that we have so much to learn from each other. That being said, traveling also gives us a great appreciation for our own homes and the things that we take for granted. I've loved my time across the pond, but I am very ready to come home to the people and the place I love. :)

Lots of love!

Comments

  1. Jen TJune 22, 2019 at 2:52 PM

    It is so beautiful! That water is really blue! So glad you had this opportunity! So excited to see you TOMORROW!!!! Love you and safe travels! Thanks for sharing your adventure with us on your blog!

    ReplyDelete

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