Black sand beach at Reynisfjara. Columnar basalt to left, fine black sand produced by erosion and ocean action on basalt, and sea rock pillars composed of eroded basalt in the water. Photo by Joan Castleman.
Complex igneous rock deposits at Reynisfjara. Vertical columnar basalt on the right is consistent with a sill (Si). Inclined sheets (S) of columnar basalt in the next higher layer is consistent with a superimposed lava flow cooling around the upper edges of the sill. A cave, Hálsanefshellir, in the sill and inclined sheets was the result of sea erosion. An intrusive dike (D) of basalt protrudes above the surface.
Closer view of Hálsanefshellir and columnar basalt inclined sheet.
Detail of columnar basalt in the inclined sheet. Columnar basalt forms when lava slowly cools below 800°C, and the lava contracts into elongated polygonal columns perpendicular to the solid cool surface it has been deposited on. Basalt columns can vary from 3 to 8 sides.
Glamour on the rocks (columnar basalt in a sill). We came across two groups of commercial photographers/videographers shooting product photos/videos on the coast. I guess they are selling sunglasses in this shot from the close-up working distance.
West at the beach of Reynisfjara, Dyrhólaey is the southernmost point of Iceland. It is composed primary of hyaloclastites and has a characteristic erosion hole formed by the sea. It used to be an island until it was joined to the main island by a lava flow.
Eldhraun lava field covered by Woolly fringe moss (Racomitrium lanuginosum). The lava field was deposited between 1783 to 1784 during one of the greatest eruptions of recorded history. Ash contributed to crop failure in Iceland and throughout Europe and is proposed to have contributed to the French Revolution.
Detail of Woolly fringe moss which turns grey during drier climate. The name of the fine admixed vascular plant is unknown.
Svínafellsjökull glacial spur and Hvannadalshnjúkur (tallest peak in Iceland) on Öræfajökull volcano as viewed from Route 1 and the glacial outwash plain (Skeiðarársandur) at Skeidara Bridge Monument on day 4 in Vatnajökull National Park. The 1996 eruption of Grimsvötn created a huge glacial flood that washed away the 2,000 ton, 176 meter long Gígjukvísl bridge on Route 1.
Skaftafellsjökull glacial spur as viewed from Skeiðarársandur on day 4 in Vatnajökull National Park. Skeiðarársandur is a glacial outwash plain (alluvial plain) composed of sand, gravel, and clay generated by the transport of debris of the Skeiðará and other rivers. Skeiðarársandur is the largest glacial alluvial plane on Iceland (1000 km2 area and 54 km long.)
Skeidara Bridge Monument. This is a remnant of the old Gígjukvísl bridge on Route 1 that was destroyed by the huge glacial flood in November, 1996. The Öræfajökull volcanic eruption under the Vatnajokull glacier led to a rapid rise in flood waters peaking after 15 hours. A maximum flow rate of ~50,000 cu. m/s carried icebergs up to 1,000-2,000 tons into the bridge destroying it as well as damaging an adjacent bridge and washing away the road west of the bridge.
Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in Vatnajökull National Park (day 5). Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier is in the background, part of larger Vatnajökull Glacier.
Amphibious vehicle loaded for lagoon tour.
The view of Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon and Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier from the amphibious vehicle.
Diamond beach where the outflow from Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Model/Dancer performing for commercial videography crew at Diamond beach. It seemed a bit weird, but I guess it will make a cool video with the tripod and drone shots they were taking once the project is edited. Despite her Icelandic blood, she looked cold.
Hundafoss on the trail to Svartifoss in Skaftafell National Park. The Stórilækur river drops 24 meters over hyaloclastite.
Svartifoss and Stórilækur river viewed in the distance on the trail.
Svartifoss, the Stórilækur river drops 20m off a cliff of black columnar basalt. The vertical orientation of the columnar basalt suggests that this was an intrusive volcanic sill or volcanic outcrop that was subsequently exposed by the erosive activity of the river. Lava flows are reported to be from the Upper Pleistocene (<0.8 Ma).
Thrush in the brush. Redwing (Turdus iliacus coburni) in the bushes next to Svartifoss.
Skeiðarársandur alluvial plain and Skeiðará river in the distance out to the coast viewed from the trail to Svartifoss.
Skógarfoss in the rain. Another beautiful waterfall off sea cliffs that were formed 13,000 years ago when sea levels at this site were higher. The cliff face is primarily hyaloclastite
