Covering an area of 3,700 square meters, the Pearl Building took about three years to complete. It actually resembles the shape of a mushroom. The clever designers made full use of the space between six tanks to create a cylindrical space, which serves as the “stem” of the “mushroom,” with an entrance located on the ground. This semi-circular glass dome consists of 1…
The Blue Lagoon is located in southwestern Iceland, about 39 kilometers from the capital Reykjavík, and is one of Iceland’s most popular tourist attractions. The area where the Blue Lagoon is situated is one of the most geothermally active regions on Earth. This activity heats the lagoon’s water, causing it to steam. The steam generated by nearby lava-heated groundwater...
Vatnajökull Glacier is located in southeastern Iceland. Ranking as the third largest glacier in the world, it is the largest in Europe, surpassed only by those in Antarctica and Greenland. The glacier covers an area of approximately 8,400 square kilometers—about one-twelfth of the country’s total land area—with an elevation of around 1,500 meters, an average thickness of 400 meters, and a maximum thickness of 1,000 meters. …
The Geysir geothermal area is located in the northwest corner of the southern Icelandic plains, near the Haukadalur settlement in the southwestern part of Iceland, close to Ölfus. This region is a major geyser field, where boiling hot springs bubble up from the ground, enveloped in steam and mist. There are many thermal features to explore, including geysers, colorful pools, fumaroles, and more. The Great Geysir...
Lake Mývatn is located to the north of the Ódáðahraun lava field, with the Laxá River carrying its waters northward into the Atlantic Ocean. Formed by groundwater seeping through rock fissures and accumulating in low-lying areas, it is the fifth-largest lake in Iceland, covering an area of approximately 37 square kilometers with an average depth of 2.5 meters. Visitors can take boat tours on the lake or enjoy fishing along its shores. Due to the surrounding…
Introduction Resembling a crystal ball, Pearl Tower is a hemispherical building constructed by Reykjavík’s hot water supply company. It houses facilities such as a hot spring model, an exhibition hall, and a restaurant. Visitors can enjoy views of the capital city through telescopes installed on the observation deck. Ticket/Opening Hours Opening hours…
Introduction This area features four major glaciers, among which the most famous Vatnajökull Glacier is the largest in Europe, while Snaefellsjökull Glacier is known as the "Gateway to the Heart of the Earth." Driving a snow jeep or motorcycle here offers you a unique experience of speeding across the ice cap. Reykjavik, Iceland…
Jökulsárlón Lake is Iceland’s most famous and largest glacial lake. It is located in southeastern Iceland, at the southern edge of Vatnajökull Glacier. The ice lagoon first appeared between 1934–35, and due to the extensive melting of Iceland's glaciers, its size has been expanding since the 1970s. It now covers an area of 18 square kilometers, and the lake…
Dettifoss Waterfall is a waterfall located in the northeastern part of the Republic of Iceland, near the Mývatn Lake area of Jökulsárgljúfur National Park, situated on the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river, which flows into the J&…
Hallgrímskirkja is a renowned church located in the city center of Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. It is named after the famous Icelandic writer Hallgrímur Pétursson in honor of his significant contributions to Icelandic literature. The church is one of the tallest buildings in Iceland. Its foundation was laid in 1940, and it was mostly completed by the late 1960s...
Gullfoss is located in the Haukadalur Valley in southwestern Iceland and is one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions. The Haukadalur Valley extends to the south, and the river makes a sudden left turn about one kilometer above Gullfoss before plunging into a curved three-tiered “staircase,” rapidly descending into two lower “steps” that are 11 and 12…
Surtsey Island is a volcanic island, a new landform created by volcanic eruptions between 1963 and 1967. Since its formation, Surtsey Island has been protected, offering a pristine natural laboratory to the world with its unique landscape. Being far from human disturbance, Surtsey…
Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park is the site of an historically significant assembly in Iceland’s history — the Althing (open-air parliament). The Althing began in the year 930 and continued until 1798. For over two weeks each year, the Althing established relevant laws, emphasizing the ideals of…
The Westman Islands are a volcanic archipelago located off the southern coast of Iceland. They were first discovered about 1,000 years ago by Norse Vikings who brought Irish slaves with them. The archipelago consists of 14 small islands, covering a total area of approximately 21 square kilometers. The islands are rugged and barren, with rocky landscapes dominating the scenery. The only inhabited island is the largest one...
Vik Town is located at the southernmost tip of Iceland and is a must-visit destination. Not only is it easily accessible via Iceland’s Route 1, just 180 kilometers from the capital Reykjavik, but the journey there is equally breathtaking: volcanoes, waterfalls, rivers and lakes, glaciers, and unique mountain landscapes... all of which will slow your pace, but eventually lead you to Vik.
Tjörnin Lake is located in the city center of Reykjavík, and is referred to by locals of Chinese descent as the "Duck Lake." This is because during the gentle summer months, thousands of swans, ducks, and other waterfowl gather here. In the cold winter, the lake is supplied with warm water at a comfortable temperature to help the waterfowl survive the season. The sunlight glitters on the water’s surface, …
Route 1 of Iceland was completed in 1974 and is approximately 1,339 kilometers long. Because it forms a large circle encircling the entire country, it is also known as the "Ring Road." Travelers driving along Route 1 can reach many cities and towns across Iceland. Part of Route 1...
Viðey Island is an island in Reykjavík formed by a volcanic eruption in ancient times and is connected to the city by ferry. During the Ice Age, about two million years ago, this area was a volcanic zone with frequent eruptions and tsunamis; nine thousand years ago, the glacier receded, and the volcanic island emerged from the sea. In 1225, the Bishop of Iceland...
Located at the westernmost point of Europe and one of the world’s largest seabird habitats, Rathlin Island is also renowned for its spectacular fjords. The area around Rathlin Island is among the least populated in Iceland, excluding the inland regions. Life here revolves around seabirds, undulating cliffs and precipices, Arctic foxes and their habitats…
Hornstrandir Nature Reserve was established in 1975 and occupies the wilderness between the Hrafnsfjörður and Furufjörður fjords. World War II forced the abandonment of the farmland here, which was mostly...