Top 5 Things to See in Iceland

Iceland could surely be considered as one of the world’s most stunning country. Located in northern Europe, Iceland is an island that borders the Atlantic and the Arctic oceans.

The whole island is volcanically and geologically active. It features plateaus of sand and lava fields, mountains and glaciers, while many glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands.

Only a few top lists do it without Iceland, therefore we created this list made entirely of Icelandic beauties. Have you seen any of them? Aren’t they unbelievable?

1. Lake Myvatn Geo-thermal Area

Approximately 90 kilometers east of Akureyri is Mývatn, Iceland’s fourth largest lake. It was most likely formed in a catastrophic volcanic eruption some 2300 years ago, and the area is still very volcanically active, the Krafla volcano being close by, its last eruption taking place in 1984.

The lake is rich with birdlife, and its surroundings are composed of many of Iceland’s most precious natural marvels; unique and unusually shaped lava-formations make up the mystical Dimmuborgir (Dark cities), where, according to legend, Satan himself landed after being cast from the heavens, only to be outlawed by the local light-elves who then turned his “Catacombs of Hell” into their capital city.

2. Skaftafell Park

Measuring 4800 square kilometers, Skaftafell is home to some of the strangest and most surreal landscapes on the planet; the area is formed by a constant duel of fire and water, and camping in the greens of a birch wood forest, surrounded by black desert sands, glacial rivers, and a spur of the Vatnajökull ice cap is always a humbling experience. Through the years the lagoon has provided the scene for numerous Hollywood films, i.e. Tomb Raider, Die Another Day, A View to a Kill, and Batman Begins.

3. Asbyrgi Canyon

In northeast Iceland, the horseshoe-shaped canyon, Ásbyrgi awaits travellers who thirst for spiritual fulfilment through the tranquil experiencing of natural splendour. The canyon is 3.5 km in length and 1 km across, split by a towering cliff structure from which travellers enjoy fantastic views, while below, pilgrims parade through a thicket of birch, willow, fir, larch and pine.

4. Þingvellir National Park

Þingvellir is a national park in southwest Iceland, part of the Golden Circle and just a 45 minute ride from Reykjavik; it is brimming with historical, cultural, and geological importance.

It has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland, as it is both the site of a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and home to Þingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland, and the otherworldly Silfra diving spot—”Iceland’s best kept secret” according to many divers—located exactly on top of the cleft which separates America and Europe.

5. Hornstrandir Nature Reserve

Intertwined with the Sagas, and populated until the early decades of the 20th century, the northernmost part of the Westfjords is called Hornstrandir. This colossal cliffside peaks at 534 m above sea level, providing the perfect habitat for one of the greatest seafowl colonies on earth.