May 13, 2013. Day 6 in Iceland. We stop at Godafoss waterfall, dimmuborgir volcanic rock formations and Skútustadir pseudo craters.
He deliberated for a day, realizing that this was an important decision in preventing a religious war. Afterwards he called the people together and said that Iceland would adopt Christianity, but anyone was free to worship their pagan gods in private.
He converted to Christianity totally and symbolically threw his Norse statues of the gods into the waterfall.
Hence Godafoss--Gods' waterfall!
Godafoss Waterfall
The Goðafoss is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland, wikipediaThe story goes that a ancient wise man was asked to decide if Iceland would adopt Christianity or continue worship of the Norse gods.
He deliberated for a day, realizing that this was an important decision in preventing a religious war. Afterwards he called the people together and said that Iceland would adopt Christianity, but anyone was free to worship their pagan gods in private.
He converted to Christianity totally and symbolically threw his Norse statues of the gods into the waterfall.
Hence Godafoss--Gods' waterfall!
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| You couldn't stand this close in the U.S. |
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| Snow patch lies along fault line |
Lake Myvatn thermal area
Smells like Yellowstone National Park and looks like Yellowstone National Park, almost.
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| Hiking trail up hillside |
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| But you can't do this in Yellowstone (unless in backcountry) |
Dimmuborgir volcanic rock formations
Lava spills into a water-filled depresion forming a lava lake and the surface begins to cool. Steam vents forms through the cooling magma. The lava lake breaches its dam and moulton lava flows out between the steam vents and the surface crust subsides. Left standing are columns and ridges. Between them are gaps where the lava flowed out. Park info sign
Scrub birch trees are beginning to grow here
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| We expected flies and some donned head nets. I like this look! |
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| Here's lookin' at you |
Skútustadir pseudocraters
There was a large lake, a precursor of the present-day Mývatn. When the glowing lava encountered the lake the ensuing steam explosions tore the lava into small pieces which were thrown up into the air, together with some of the lake bottom.
By repeated explosions in a number of locations, groups of craters built up and now dominate the landscape on the shore of Lake Mývatn.
This type of lava formation is known as pseudocraters or rootless vents.
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| The pseudocraters are formed from "cinders" |
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| This is where the "hatch" was located, by the millions |
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| Barney dresses for the hordes of flies |
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| Zemfira inspects my camera's aperture setting |
Akureyri, the town
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| Lupine was introduced into Iceland and is thriving |
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| Ingvi holds his favorite drink, Icelandic Water |
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| "Old Town" |
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