F E A T U R E
Wild Wonders IN THE
NORTH ATLANTIC By Kristen Pope
The wide-open spaces and incredible landscapes of Iceland and the Faroe Islands are ideal for a physically distanced nature escape. Combine these scenic destinations for the ultimate outdoor adventure.
ARRIVING IN ICELAND It was raining sideways when we flew into Reykjavík, Iceland, at 6:15 a.m. After picking up our rental car, my husband and I found a little cafe where we enjoyed a satisfying meal of broccoli soup, fresh-baked bread, and pastries, while gulping down coffee after our red-eye flight. At first, we laughed at the warning sticker on the rental car: “Don’t blow up car door.” But as the wind gusted, we soon realized it wasn’t a joke. A car door could easily be damaged by what the Icelandic media dubbed “flying trampoline weather.” Stocking up on sandwiches and snacks, we headed out to road trip along Iceland’s southern coast. After donning layers of fleece, rain jackets, rain pants, and hiking boots, we were ready to explore. Iceland is known as the Land of Fire and Ice, and we soon discovered both its volcanic wonders and glaciers. 20 |
EXTRAORDINA RY EXP ER IEN C ES
We were enthralled by Reynisfjara’s black sand beach, Geysir’s geological features and the kaleidoscope of colours at Kerið Crater. Peering into the Silfra fissure, we saw where two tectonic plates meet and then went on to tour Þingvellir National Park. Ice was on the agenda at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, which was packed with chunks of ancient ice, from room-sized slabs to pebble-sized pieces. We savoured every moment of silence and solitude, listening to glaciers calving with a reverberating splash and watching ripples spread across the water. Flowing water was also plentiful further along our route, with many cascading waterfalls lining the way. We hiked near a few beauties, including Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss, and spotted plenty of others as we drove in the mist, which created an air of mystery.
