Iceland: Jökulsárlón Icebergs

The Breiđarmerkurjökull glacier calves icebergs in a spectacular lagoon.

Each iceberg is unique, taking its form from wherever it lay inside the glacier.

Aqua tints glow from the interior of the sculpted ice.

One of the boats adds scale to the scene.

Jökulsárlón is one of the most visited places in Iceland. Boats guide visitors between fantasically shaped icebergs in the glacial lagoon as the ice floats toward the sea. Each iceberg is unique in texture, coloration and form. Most seem architectural, with cave-like hollows and pointed spires. The ice glows turquoise and aquamarine from its depths. It is crystal clear, lacking bubbles. The great weight of the glacier presses layers of snow into perfect ice.  Dark streaks of volcanic ash appear randomly in some formations.

1000 year old crystal clear ice!

  

Iceland: Gulfoss and Þingvellir

Enormous Gulfoss Falls

Cave-like rock formations at Þingvellir (Thingvellir) on the Eurasian Tectontic Plate.

Water flows from the falls where the Vikings redirected the river through the cliffs at Þingvellir.

Visitors walk through the rift between the tectonic plates.
North America is on the left and Eurasia is to the right.

A view of the rift while standing on top of the Eurasian Plate.

The Golden Circle is the most popular and well-travelled excursion for good reason. It's highlights are monumental and grand.  Gulfoss is at the junction of two rivers with two waterfalls.  The ant-like dots on top of the cliff are tourists snapping photos, so you can see the scale of it all. We were covered with spray that rose well above the sides of the gorge.

Þingvellir (Thingvellir) is the historic site of the first parliament, the summer meetings of the Icelandic cheiftains and their entourages, where laws were reviewed and enacted through group consent. It is also one of the rift zones between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates that are moving apart at a rate of two centimetres a year. The North American cliff face has been pushed upwards in strangely shaped blocks of stone, while the Eurasian side is more eroded and covered with mosses and plants. It is easy to see why the Viking chieftains chose this area for their summer meetings. 

I find the rock formations fascinating! I'm certain they will appear in my artwork in the future.

Stay tuned for more about the Strokkur Geysir, also on the Golden Circle tour route.

Iceland: New Sketch of a Hot Spring

Sketch 3 - Hot Spring, incised Plexiglass and painted panel,10 x 12 x ½ in.

Plumes of steam rise from the landscape in the Icelandic countryside. Geothermal springs are used to heat homes, greenhouses and produce electricity. The steam escapes in puffs and veils that contrast with surrounding deposits of rusty iron oxide and yellow sulfur.  I painted the panel in dark tones in order to utilize the smokey effect of sanded and incised Plexiglass.  (The second wood panel underneath is not part of the project.)

I am working on Sketch 4 - Mountain Stream at the moment. 

Iceland: Sampling Reykjanes' Cliffs, Steam, and Trolls

Dramatic cliffs and rocks at Valahnúkur, Reykjanes Peninsula

The cliffs cast aquamarine shadows in the water.

Eldey Island, home to world's largest gannet colony.

Dots under the flying gull (upper left) are a few tourists who climbed to the top.

Geologically active Reykjanes Peninsula features mammoth 13th century lava fields and volcanic cliffs that dwarf people with their massive forms. The oldest lighthouse in Iceland is also located here at Valahnúkar.

Reykjanes Lighthouse, oldest in Iceland. Broken shards of lava protrude amidst black sand and tiny wildflowers.

The Lady Gunna is currently angry!

Geothermal steam from hot springs provides heat and electricity, as well as relaxing, natural hot tubs and swimming pools. Gunnuhver Hot Spring is named after the legend of Gunna, a poor woman who lost her only cooking pot to a Viking and died of starvation. She returned to haunt the area as a vengeful ghost!  The amount of steam varies from day to day.  The area around the hot spring seems like a different planet with iron and sulfur deposits around pools of grey, boiling mud.

Go to this blog for the Legend of Gunna.

Boiling Water releases billows of steam.

Lumps of Lava resemble trolls from a distance.

Volcanic cones dominate the landscape.

Many more photos and comments are coming!