US Visitors – Seljalandsfoss Waterfall and Sólheimajökull Glacier
[Written 29 July 2014. C’est la vie!]
We decided to play tourists again and drive to see a fun waterfall one can walk behind, and see how much further we could make it along the southern coast before it got too late. (69 images total)
Getting ready to set out. Our first destination was Selfoss, where we planned to eat lunch before continuing on.
Eating lunch at Menam in Selfoss.
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
At the waterfall after about an hour long drive from Selfoss. Finnur and Anna took off to the side to fly the quad-copter.
It was pretty windy there, so everybody suited up.
Sarah and Jason closing in on the waterfall.
There are large stairs on both sides of the waterfall, leading to a path that goes behind it. I figured I needed both hands to feel safe with Emma on my back, so I handed the camera to Anna. Most of the following pictures were taken by her.
The surprisingly non-slippery path.
Some vegetation.
This picture breaks my brain a little. Good job Anna!
The path is far from being easily traversed. At the top of the stairs on both sides are rocks that one must clamber over.
Augusto’s profile.
Anna by the back wall.
Another great shot by Anna!
Stella and Walter closing in on being right behind the waterfall.
They made it!
Jason.
Walter and Stella, and not the best photo conditions.
Clarissa.
A grinning Augusto. Is there any other kind?
Sarah checking out the waterfall overhead.
The rocks on the other side are very difficult to navigate if you’re not fully able-bodied, so Stella and Walter headed back the same way they came, while the others went climbing.
Emma not so enthusiastic about the climbing part. She probably had a bit of an ear infection there…
Climbing, climbing.
At the top we found Fancy Finnur taking a photosphere (not publicly available yet, see the one he took in May here)
The car park off in the distance. We seemed to arrive shortly before a few buses did, so there weren’t too many people there.
Nature dwarfs people.
High up!
Mischievous Jason.
Finnur helping Clarissa and Augusto past the boulders.
Inland is the magical place of Thorsmork (Þórsmörk). I will return there someday! (You need a jeep/bus capable of crossing angry rivers to go.)
About to head down the stairs.
On flat land again. The river responsible for the waterfall is surprisingly small.
Bjarki and Anna throwing things into the water.
Walking back to the carpark. Bjarks was very proud to have caught me waving.
There are more waterfalls further inland!
Bjarki was very intent on photographing that pretty “tree”.
Another waving photo by Bjarki.
The view from the carpark.
Throwing things into bodies of water is forever entertaining!
Sólheimajökull Glacier
We kept on driving eastwards along the southern coast, looking for something else to visit. I remembered Finnur’s parents telling us they’d gone to see where the glacier comes down off the mountain. So there we went.
We decided to stop by the Sólheimajökull glacier next. (Sól = Sun, heima = world, jökull = glacier). Finnur and I had never been there before, so we had no idea what were were getting into. Here we are setting off from the car park.
The car park. There are companies that offer walking tours on the glacier itself.
We had a bit of a walk ahead of us!
Bjarki, and a group of hikers returning from the glacier.
The hikers were outfitted with the necessary equipment.
The glacial lagoon. This glacier has been retreating for a while now.
The others catching up with us. At this point a tour guide came up to us and let us know that the police had just sent out a warning on the tetra communications system because there was increased levels of sulfur coming from the glacier, indicating there might be a flash flood on the way. We promised to be careful and kept going.
Water in the distance. According to news sources, there was already some water from geothermal areas high on up in the river when we were there.
Bjarki spotted his dad and left me in the dust!
Finnur was of course flying the quad-copter.
Tourists photographing the drone landing.
Augusto happy as a clam with his camera.
Siblings and a glacier offshoot.
The edge of the glacier.
Walter and Sarah ran down to touch the glacier bit that was closest to us. They indeed reported smelling sulfur.
The five of us! In one photo!
The Harromans. Stella only walked part of the way there. We hope the pictures are enough for her!
Photographing in progress.
Bjarki with some colorful stones, some of which made it all the way back to our house!
Cheerful Clarissa!
Saying goodbye!
Can I have the camera?
Looking out along the river that runs into the sea.
The walk back.
There’s a cafe there, and a toilet you have to pay to use(!!!).
Info on the big glacier sitting on top of the mountain. CLICK on the image for a larger version.
This little glacier we looked at is a small offshoot of the big one. (CLICK on image for larger version).
Oh. My. Goodness. We. Are. Totally. Screwed. See how much the glacier has receded (gotten smaller) since 1997?!!? That’s the image on the far left bottom, 2006 is in the middle, and 2010 is on the far right. Damn. (Click for bigger version.)
And finally. This thing is dangerous. Play safe. (Click for bigger version.)
Once we were back at the parking lot, it was almost dinner time, so we decided we’d had enough of nature, and drove back west. On the way, we made a quick stop to photograph Seljalandsfoss from a distance.
Finnur taking a photo of Seljalandsfoss from afar with his drone. My phone camera was apparently somewhat gunky.