Day 16 Saturday 14/7 Volcanoes, Lava sands and Glaciers

Our journey continued and today and took us to some more spectacular scenery. It was one of those days where around every corner there was something to take in. Today waterfalls played second fiddle to lava and glaciers. We drove over huge areas of lava fields and sands caused by a huge 8 month long eruption of the Laki volcano in 1783-4. It was so interesting to see how moss, lichen and other small plants had started to grow on what had once been lava. Although initially no one in Iceland directly died from this volcano, the impact was felt nearly all over the world due to the effect the eruption had on the weather. Year-long winters causing crops to fail and therefore famine, death due to the ash and breathing issues were common and all through Europe thousands of people died. Even in Japan rice crops failed! The experts are also saying that the eruption could have caused the French Revolution because crop failure made so many people poor, desperate and hungry! We stopped at Skatafell National Park where we went on a long and upward hike (not Rob’s most favourite thing) to see a beautiful basalt column waterfall. Well worth the walk. We continued to drive alongside the largest glacier in Europe (Vatnajokull) and took many photos. We finished the day with a tour of a glacial lagoon in an amphibian vehicle. This was such a highlight to see the ice sculptures of floating icebergs and the beautiful hues of blue and those striped with black from volcanic ash or from the bed of the glacier.

PS The map on the tab called MAP has been updated.