Iceland: The Land Of Fire and Ice!

Prepare to be amazed by Iceland, the original land of fire and ice, writes Ute Junker.

Don’t let its modest area fool you: Iceland is a destination on a grand scale. With massive glaciers, cascading waterfalls and geysers that shoot high into the air, it could hardly be otherwise. It is somewhat surprising, therefore, to discover that in Iceland, it is the small things that make a really big impact.

Take, for instance, the joy of sinking into a naturally heated thermal pool after a day of exploring. Or take that moment when, halfway through a hike, you find your water bottle empty. Nothing beats the simple pleasure of refilling your water bottle straight from the nearest stream or waterfall. Iceland has some of the world’s purest water, pristine meltwater that runs straight down from the country’s mighty glaciers. This is not just an open-air treat: the same glacier water comes pouring out of the taps as well.

These are just some of the little luxuries Icelanders take for granted. Much of the population (123,000) lives in Reykjavik, a low slung port town where pretty coloured houses line sloping streets. The rest of the country is one huge adventure playground. The closest attractions, clustered together in an area dubbed the Golden Circle, can be done as a day trip and include Geysir, the source of the word ‘geyser’. These days, Geysir rarely erupts but nearby Strokkur makes up for it, shooting a massive plume 40 metres into the air every five to 10 minutes.