Iceland Day #4

The theme for today’s travel to the southern coast was chasing waterfalls. We drove six hours along the coast stopping to hike, catch a waterfall, and soak up the sights. The drive was gorgeous - wild flowers, horses, sheep, a few cows, and the greenest grasses.

Our first stop was Seljalandsfoss where we walked up the hill and then behind the fall. The wind was blowing, and we got soaked. But it was all good because it was raining anyway. 

Just around the corner was fall #2, Gljúfrabúi, nicknamed the secret waterfall because it’s hidden behind a cove. 

Waterfall #3 was a few miles further south on Route 1, 

Skogafoss. While the fall was impressive, the hike on the top of the fall to see the canyon above it was spectacular! Keagan dubbed it one of the most impressive hikes he’s ever taken. The hike was 16 miles, but we did about two miles of it before we had to turn around. If I were to come back, this hike would be a must-do.

We found another waterfall, Hestavaosfoss. 

And another, Steinbogafoss.

The fields were dotted with sheep. 

This was my favorite spot in Iceland thus far. 

We drove through miles of lava fields covered in a layer of delicate moss. This was a geological feature I’ve never seen before. It looked like something from another world.

Route 1 continued to impress with a stop at the canyon, Fjadrargliufar. This canyon was formed in the Ice Age and is said to be two million years old.

We could have hiked this, but it was 1900 and we were hungry! We had one more stop to make, the glacier lagoon. Chunks of broken glaciers were floating in the lagoon! I can’t say I’ve ever seen anything like this before either.

There’s a science behind the blue color, but all I got was they absorb and reflect sunlight. Remember I was hungry. I can’t do much thinking when I’m hungry, so I bite my tongue to keep from bitchin’. Keagan spotted a seal a good ways from where I stood, and I wanted to cry. I have to see a seal in the wild! Tomorrow! Maybe? Hopefully?