dimanche 2 juin 2013

Travel To Iceland Is Like Entering A Northern Wonderland

By Michelle Howe


There are fewer countries in the world which are located further north than Iceland. This island nation is a country of active volcanoes and spouting geysers, of boiling mud pools and endless summer nights, of epic landscapes and thumping nightclubs. Anyone who wants to experience something uniquely inspiring should make sure that they travel to Iceland.

Many people will be familiar with some of Iceland's more famous cultural exports, especially musicians such as Bjork and Sigur Ros. The capital city of Reykjavik is one of Europe's hippest capitals, with plenty of cool bars and clubs to explore. But it is outside of its towns, in its wild countryside, where Iceland really comes alive.

The country basically consists of a large island, located in the North Atlantic Ocean, which was formed largely as a result of volcanic activity. Volcanoes here still erupt from time to time, and there is plenty of geothermal activity too, there being many natural features which can be explored in the countryside as a result, such as geysers, hot springs and pools of boiling mud. Taking a bathing costume is always a good idea, as many of the hot springs are very warm and pleasant to bathe in.

Eleven per cent of all of Europe's glaciers can be found here, and they still scrape and shape the landscape in a much slower way than the volcanoes do. Europe's largest glacier is located in Iceland. All of which leaves little space which is actually inhabitable for the total population of 300,000 people.

The sheer number of glaciers means that there are some dramatically impressive landscapes to be seen, and more wildlife, especially birdlife, than you might expect. There is an enormous amount of space and peace too, with the empty landscape possessing a savage and defiant beauty. Pollution is minimal, and this really is one of the world's unspoilt environments.

There is also the weather to enjoy, though that might seem unlikely when looking at the location of this beautiful country in the North Atlantic. The summers here are actually surprisingly warm, and the landscape takes on a lush, green beauty which only grows as the days stretch out from spring onwards. Anyone who enjoys photography or painting will find plenty to inspire them here, with the mountains, ridges and petrified streams of lava offering some alien looking landscapes which could not exist anywhere else on earth.

Even winter has its amazing sights and sounds to enjoy here, in this isolated part of northern Europe. The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis undulates in the night sky at this time of year, its blue, yellow, green and pink lights spreading an otherworldly pattern overhead. The island's reserves of geothermal and hydroelectric power mean that you can stay warm in a very environmentally friendly way too.

Travel to Iceland is something anyone who is keen on experiencing new things should contemplate. Whether you enjoy being outdoors, spotting wildlife, learning about different cultures or taking photographs, you can find something to enjoy here. It is also much warmer and greener than you might think, and you can even wear your swimsuit in the middle of winter, if you know the right places to go.




About the Author:



Aucun commentaire:

Enregistrer un commentaire