JOHN QUARENGHI
Iceland’s Hiking Hot-Spot:
LANDMANNALAUGAR
ICELAND’S HIKING HOTSPOT: LANDMANNALAUGAR LANDMANNALAUGAR IS LOCATED IN THE HIGHLANDS OF ICELAND IN THE FJALLABAK NATURE RESERVE. Renowned for its geothermal hot springs, it is situated at the edge of the Laugahraun lava field – formed following an eruption in 1477.
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HIKERS CAN REACH MOUNT BRENNISTEINSALDA – OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ‘SULPHUR WAVE’ – FROM LANDMANNALAUGAR, WITH A SHORT TWO-HOUR TREK THAT STARTS AT THE LAVA FIELDS OF LAUGAHRAUN .
BRENNISTEINSALDA Nestled within the landscape of Landmannalaugar is the rhyolite mountain area, which boasts kaleidoscopic mountains in green, orange, purple and red. Brennisteinsalda is thought to be the most colorful mountain in the whole of Iceland, with red iron, dark blue volcanic ash and vivid green moss. Hikers can reach Mount Brennisteinsalda – otherwise known as the ‘Sulphur Wave’ – from Landmannalaugar, with a short two-hour trek that starts at the lava fields of Laugahraun .
MOUNT BLAHNJUKUR Another hike in Landmannalaugar finishes at the peak of Mount Blahnjukur – the ‘Blue Peak’, which is 940m high – and takes around one hour to climb. Hikers will be amazed by the black and blue landscape. Once at the peak it is possible to see the colors of the neighboring Brennisteinslada, and on a clear day it is possible to see five different glaciers.
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For further information about hiking in Iceland, visit the blog of John Quarenghi.