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We are visiting the southern coast of Iceland from Reykjavik to Sylnafelt

The Icelanders like Americans, and we are a large part of their 2 million tourists that are coming each year.

But as Fred Harvey would say "Now for the Rest of the Story"

During World War II, Iceland joined Denmark in asserting neutrality. But after the Germany invaded Denmark in April 1940, the King of Denmark declared that the Icelandic government would take control of its own defense and foreign affairs. A month later, British armed forces conducted Operation Fork and occupied the country, violating Icelandic neutrally. In 1941, the Government of Iceland invited the United States to take over its defense so that Britain could use its troops elsewhere. These dates are very interesting as in 1940 and 1941 the United States not at war. However, we were supporting England and Europe with Roosevelt's Lend Lease Program, and the waters of the North Atlantic had to be protected from the German " U Boats". The Lend Lease program allowed the US begin to industrialize its war machine manufacturing power for WWII which without a doubt FDR knew was imminent.

This is a photo of a Geothermal Electrical Generation facility just outside Reykjavik. No pollution, that is steam escaping. And as I mentioned in the Log on Reykjavik that 40% of Iceland's electric power comes from Geothermal sources. There is a project on the drawing board now to ship electrical power to the UK. And one of Iceland's major industries is the refinement of Aluminum. Iceland does not have Bauxite ore for the production of aluminum, but it has cheap electric power, so bauxite is imported refined and exported.

 

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Seljalandsfoss Falls from Glacier Eyafjalajokull

The height of the fall is 200 feet.

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When I took this photograph, I was hoping that it captured the person standing on the crest. He does give dimension to this setting.

 

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The behind the Fall's observation point is shown mid right in this photo.

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The water mist doesn't bother or even come to the minds of young people, but it certainly does to we Matures.

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Photograph by Elisa Borghi. I borrowed this photo from Iceland's online collection to show this excellent artwork of Elisa taken in the "Veil". Nicely done Elisa.

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Upstream, and note the vertical stems of the volcanic force. We'll see more of this type of volcanic action when we visit the Reynisfjara Beach. Too, we saw a similar action at the World Heritage site of The Giant Causeway in Northern Ireland. This photograph is by Michelle Vucko. Michelle you caught the 'stems' as if they are about to fall at any moment. Wonderful photography. (This is one you must enlarge!)

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Winter photograph by artist Jana Motalová. I searched for this winter photograph, to show the snow bringing out the depth. Nicely done Jana,very artful taste.

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Skogafoss is unique because the waterfall comes directly from two glaciers, Ehjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull.

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Standing 197 ft tall and 82 ft in width, the heavy veil of water is impressive and walking close enough envelops visitors in a cloud of spray, sound and refracted light. Due to the amount of spray the waterfall consistently produces, a single or double rainbow is normally visible on sunny days.

One must climb the 370 steps to the top of Skogafoss waterfall to be rewarded with this awe-inspiring view.

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It is up 370 steps to the observation tower, but that is no hill for a stepper. These young grandchildren of ours were up the hill like bunnies. But someone had to remain below to take the photos, so I volunteered for that job. :)

The artist for this winter photography is Werner Roder. His photograph brings a magical touch to Skogafoss.

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Our drive along the Southern Coast

The beautiful and pristine farms on the alluvial coastal plains are spectacular. The white farm structures and red roofs are striking especially when framed with the lust green fields and the snowcapped mountain background.

 

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We noted the drainage canals just as we had observed in the Netherlands.

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This is a photo from Lightroom Maps showing the location of various photo shots, but the reason for including is to give one the perspective of the vastness of the Vatnajokull Glacier, and the reason for using it is to show why this southern coastal drive is so spectacular. The Vatnajokull glacier, is Europe's second largest and one covering 13% of Iceland, and has many, many discharge points. From the highway on your drive one only sees the Glacier as show in the second and third photos below. You never sense the massive ice glacier feeding these outlets.

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Iceland's Horses

There are some 85,000 Icelandic Horses in Iceland and an estimated equal number abroad. They are renowned for their gentleness, stamina, and smooth ride. For the last 1,000 years, an animal leaving the country can never return, and likewise no other breeds of horse are allowed to be imported. The Icelandic Horse is just that and their strain is destined to remain pure.

The horse is the one animal that can stand Iceland's winters in the open. Horse meat is a European delicacy and some 30,000 tons of horse meat is exported annually from Iceland. However, horse meat is not heavily relied upon in the Icelander's diet. Mutton is by far is the largest consumed meat source.

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We just stopped on an off road and walked to the fence. This bunch reacted as a puppy would. They wanted to be petted.

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Jökulsárlón Lagoon

This is the largest and deepest lagoon in Iceland. It must be the depth that creates the phenomenon of the collection of icebergs. For a perspective in size look at the people along the shoreline.

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The safety patrol craft, on alert. He followed our tour boat like a shadow.

We're not all wrapped up like this to be in style, it is more than cool, it is darned cold. Looking at this chunk of ice you'll, notice it is crystal clear. This brings meaning to the fact the 198,000 glaciers in the world hold our supply future of pure drinking water.

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Hurry, hurry up Kyle with your picture taking this chunk of ice is ICE COLD!

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Very close to Jökulsárlón Lagoon is this glacier discharge. The difference being that these waters are not crystal clear. This phenomenon comes for the accumulation of erupted ashes over the years, and the grinding of the ice pack as it erodes down the canyon carrying rock fragments with the discharge. This is a common sight with Alaska's glaciers. The water, however, is just as cold!

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Reynisfjara is a world-famous black-sand beach found on the South Coast of Iceland.

Besides the spectacular black basalt beach are the enormous basalt stacks, roaring Atlantic waves and stunning panoramas. The stacks or stems are very similar to The Giant Causeway Northern Ireland's World Heritage Site.

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Sergei, our guide did like Dottie.

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Reynisfjara Beach floating ice discharge from Jökulsárlón Lagoon into the North Atlantic Sea.

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This is a fun photograph that we must include. This one was actually a reflection from our tour van. We had stopped for a rest stop, and in walking by I noticed the reflection coming off the window, so I took my trusty iPhone and snapped a shot. It wasn't bad. When the whole crew returned, we took this one.

Life is just a reflection nothing less nothing more.

The black beaches made the perfect setting for this black and white photograph. This is going a long way back in time for many of us.

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Reindeer

These are the first photographs of Reindeer I've ever taken. I've captured photographs of their cousins the Caribou in Alaska but these are first Reindeer. So, if these might be a few more photos than interest you just humor ole Norm and pass on by.

The reindeer is the only grassing mammal that feed on Iceland's tundra. Iceland is often called a desert of tundra, as tundra grass occupies 62% of Iceland's land mass. The Tundra is protected by law with limited access. It exists is such a fragile environment that trespassing it can due decades of damage.

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Sergei, our tour guide for these two days on the southern coast, showed us the tundra plant. Look at his boots, then notice how they sink into the grass. It was like walking on a soft deep carpet. Much like the tundra of Alaska, and Canada's arctic but there the underlining support is water to the permafrost.

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This is not a good photograph, but when with Sergei pulled this sprig of the tundra grass, and after drying this is that sprig. The grass was about 3" in length and the root was the same length. But it also appears to have burr sharp leaf, and that is probably its protection for survival.

Back to our Reindeer. There were three in this herd, and this is a surprising showing as this time of year generally finds them high in the mountains. Don't assume these three to be Bucks as both the Doe and the Buck have antlers. The Reindeer were introduced into Iceland from Norway in the late 1700's. You may recall that they were likewise introduced into Alaska from Finland in the late 1800's.

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This is my favorite photo of the lot. WOW what a setting with the green tundra grass and then snowcapped glacier in the background, and the star of our show Mr. Reindeer.

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The Golden Circle

Our last day in Iceland incorporated "The Golden Circle". This route covers about 200 miles looping from Reykjavik into the Southerner uplands and back, that included three spectacular sites: 'The Godafoss Waterfall', 'Thingvellier National Park' and the 'Geysir'.

 

The spectacular Godafoss Waterfall behold a thundering cascade o water that plunges 40 feet across a chasm that stretches nearly 100 feet.

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The Divide Thingvellir National Park, a unique geological site where two tectonic plates meet – and the only place where you can see the Mid-Atlantic Rift above sea level. To your left is the European rift and to your right is the North American rift.

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With all of Iceland's volcanic action and thermo water, you would expect to find a Geyser to two and we have.

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Sylnafelt

This is the southernmost place we ventured on our tour. You are looking north and at the south end of the Vatnajokull Glacier. We were out before, breakfast this morning and looking across the bay we could see 5 glacier outlets from the Vatnajokull. The scene was a holistic moment.

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This is the emblem of the Hotel with the bay in the foreground and Vatnajokull in the background.

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By Golly Gumdrops here is my Bride.

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All good things have an ending so, at this we'll depart from the beauty of Iceland's wonders and make our way back home.

Robin and Kyle are on board, and there is a story behind Robin's smile. A few years ago, the Harder's on their way to Mazatlan were safely at the boarding gate. Robin and Raulin decided to go for a cup of coffee. Their flight was call to board so, Kyle and Garrett boarded. The aircraft doors were closed, and the craft left Albuquerque for Phoenix, with Robin and Raulin still on the ground, but with coffee in hand, and the boys on the ground in Phoenix. Their Mazatlan vacation was cut day short.

Robin is smiling as she is on the plane out of Reykjavik and getting her coffee on board.

Delta Airlines came over an picked us up for an interesting flight into Minneapolis, and from there home. We were over Greenland at this moment on our flight.

Greenland, who mentioned Greenland?

Wow this is a spectacular photo that Dottie captured out of the window! Greenland's Ice Cap covers 80% of the country and there is a lot of ice in storage here.

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One is immersed in spectacular scenery, mile after mile. In all of our travels this must have been the most continuous wonder. You'd pass a glacier outlet and only to find around the bend another waiting for your bewilderment. Iceland you have enriched us.

And to you our friends, thanks for traveling along with our family these past two weeks. We've had a fantastic trip and the Travel Logs will help us to remember these good times.

From our family to yours,

God Bless,

 

Adios and as we do in New Mexico, when we pass .......................... We wave.

ADIOUS ~ Amigos

We'll be back in New Mexico for a while now, but will share with you the best of the New England States in
mid-September! So, rest up and get your wagons ready to travel again this fall.

Use Wisely your QTR!

 

QTR - Quality Time Remaining

 

 

Come on Willie sing us another verse, and we’ll move on down the road.