Iceland's nature is not only beautiful and breathtaking, but also unique and special because of the contrasts that meet within the country. The land of fire and ice has an almost limitless variety of amazing natural forces and activities. But some of these natural spectacles are still unknown to many, despite their unique beauty.
In the heart of Iceland's southern highlands is the Landmannalaugar area. It convinces not only with its unique beauty and breathtaking colors. The mountains of Landmannalaugar are colored in shades of red, pink and yellow. The area is a true paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. The Landmannalaugar Mountains are perfect for single or multi-day hiking in the summer season. Before starting your tour, however, you should inquire whether the area is accessible at the desired time. If so, many natural springs invite you to take a bath. When you visit Landmannalaugar, you should always have your swimwear to hand.
For several months now, an enchanting spectacle has been taking place in Iceland:the eruption of a volcano on the slopes of Fagradalsfjall, just under 30 kilometers from the capital Reykjavík. Although a volcano erupts every three to five years in Iceland, there has been no volcanic eruption in this region for 800 years.
The Stakkholtsgjá gorge is a breathtaking natural wonder in the Þórsmörk National Park in the southern highlands of Iceland. Within the gorge of the canyon you are surrounded by straight rock walls about a hundred meters high. While walking through the two-kilometer gorge, hikers can expect to see several streams, mysterious caves and shelves of vegetation in the rock faces and deep, narrow gorges. The gorge, which is relatively wide at the beginning, gradually narrows and ends at a picturesque waterfall as the crowning glory. The Stakkholtsgjá gorge can only be reached with an all-terrain vehicle or special bus tours. The road to it leads over unpaved gravel roads through the highlands of Iceland. A visit to this breathtaking area is definitely worth it!
Dynjandi Waterfall in the heart of the remote Westfjords region is one of Iceland's most impressive waterfalls. It adapts perfectly to the shape of the fjord before splitting into dozens of small waterfalls. With a height of almost 100 meters and a width of 30 meters at the top, the Dynjandi is the largest of seven waterfalls in this area. Together, all seven waterfalls are 200 meters high. Dynjandi is also the collective name for all seven waterfalls in the area. The waterfall is especially huge when the snow melts in the mountains. But the Dynjandi also looks very impressive in summer.
Another rare natural phenomenon can be found on the Golden Circle in southwest Iceland:Lake Kerid in a volcanic crater. Here clear blue water meets red volcanic rock and lush green vegetation – a color spectacle of a special kind. The crater is 55 meters deep and extends over an area of 0.05 square kilometers (equivalent to about 7 football fields). The water depth varies between 7 and 14 meters. Because the crater is below the water table, the lake in the crater probably consists of groundwater.
In the northeast of the country, the region around Lake Myvatn offers surreal, strange-looking landscapes:bubbling mud pools, steaming geothermal fields escaping from the earth, impressive waterfalls, hot springs, craters and caves. In Myvatn you will encounter a unique nature that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Lake Myvatn is 36.5 square kilometers (approximately equivalent to 5,112 football fields) and is the fourth largest lake in the country. It is very flat and has about 50 small islands and skerries. With its multitude of fish, rich bird life and interesting flora, the lake and its surroundings have been designated a nature reserve.
The Westman Islands, a volcanic archipelago of fifteen islands, are located about ten kilometers south of Iceland and are an extraordinary natural paradise where the puffins outnumber the inhabitants. This archipelago is probably Iceland's best kept secret and the site of some of the most famous volcanic eruptions in the country. Breathtaking basalt columns with many caves and vaults surround the islands and give the archipelago its special, characteristic appearance. Also for this reason, some consider the Westman Islands to be one of the most beautiful landscapes to be found in Iceland.
Raudisandur sandy beach (literally “red sand”) is a special nature experience in Iceland's Westfjords. It stretches for 10 kilometers and appears in different shades of red, orange, yellow or brown, depending on the weather, number of mussels and lighting conditions. Since most beaches in Iceland have black sand, this beach is special and unique.
