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Reynisdrangar
Reynisdrangar - The Three Trolls.
DSC_0878p1 Our hotel in Vik was on a former farm. Dinner at Hotel Katla was served in a grand buffet. There was a soup and salad bar to start. Then there were the hot dishes, including fish, pasta and reindeer meatballs. There were cold sides. Cod Liver Oil is always available on every breakfast or dinner buffet in Iceland. A range of dessert pastries completed the dinner service.
Today would be only a half-day's coach drive as we would be retuning to Reykjavik around 11:00. But there were still more of Iceland's wonders to see.
A landmark in Vik is the Three Trolls rock formation (
Reynisdrangar). They are in the sea and and are said to represent trolls who froze. The rocks are an extension of the Reynisdrangar basalt cliffs. Basalt block similar to those seen at the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland are found here, (We saw the Three Trolls, but time did not permit inspection of the cliffs.)
En route to Seljalandsfoss we saw Eyjafjallajökull rising up from the highway. This is the volcano that erupted in 2010 and disrupted transatlantic air travel. Speaking of aircraft, along the highway a parking area was available for those who
Arctic Skua
Arctic Skua, also known at the Parasitic Jager.
DSC_0904p1 wish to trek to the wreckage of a US Navy DC-3. The aircraft crashed on a black sand beach in 1973 and has become something of an Icelandic icon. Two more turf houses were spotted at the curiously named
Drangurinn í Drangshlíð 2. They appeared to be abandoned.
We stopped to visit Seljalandsfoss. Seljalandsfoss is a tall 213 foot (65 m) waterfall fed by the Eyjafjallajökull glacier. Visitors can walk behind the falls. (Yes, I thought of Disney's Jungle Cruise where one is treated to the "back side of water".) It is a very attractive one, with the water splitting into several parallel streams.
Between Seljalandsfoss and the town of Sellfoss Vestmannaeyjar, the Westman Islands, were on the horizon. Only one of the islands is populated and they are said to be another popular puffin watching location. On the other side of the highway, the peak of Hekla, perhaps Iceland's most active and famous volcano, was visible. Hekla last erupted in 2000, but its most famous eruption was in 1845-1846.
Arrival at Selfoss brought us back to the beginning of our circle tour of Iceland. There is still the Hellisheiði lava field between here and Reykjavik, but
Pond and Arctic Skua
Pond and Arctic Skua at Hotel Katla.
DSC_0891p1 Selfoss marks a return to the more populated part of Iceland. The abrupt transition from farmland to town and presence of agricultural equipment dealers gives it the feel of an American midwestern town. There are even a Kentucky Fried Chicken, Domino's Pizza and a Subway in Selfoss.
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Never tire of waterfalls
She is a beauty.