The Nature Reserve in Flói consist of wetlands, ponds and grassland. In the winter time when everything is frozen over it looks like something from á fairiy tale, – a winter wonderland.
In the summer time the Nature Reserve in Flói is teeming with birds. Today in mid winter I was surpised to see a pair of Wooper Swans, a Snow Bunting, a Redwing and a Wren.
Hjálparfoss Waterfall in Thjosardalur (Þjórsárdalur) is situated just before the road takes you into the Southern Highlands and is easy to access from the main road. It is a beautiful place, the double waterfall, the lagoon and some interesting lava formations make it a place you should definitely not leave out if you are in the area. It is more than worth the while to hike down the short footpath to the river although the view from the parking place is great.
There are some very interesting places to visit in Thjorsardalur Valley and you should not pass them by. One of these is Gjáin, not far from Hálparfoss.
Gauksmýri is in the western part of North Iceland, in the county Húnavatnssýsla. Near the farm, by the same name, is a birdwatching location where wetland has been restored. The birdlife there is colourful and diverse.
On your way North it is ideal to visit the bird watching house by the pond. There you will find some binoculars and birding guidebooks. 35 different bird species have been spotted there, e.g. swans, ducks, geese, horned grebes to name a few.
Selfoss is the biggest town in the south of Iceland about 50 km southeast of the capital Reykjavík. It is in the vicinity of some of the most popular scenic attractions such as Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss.
It is also the civic center for the region with a hospital, swimming pool, banks, supermarkets, library, high school e.t.c. The number of inhabitants is around 7 thousand.
The pictures are from last weekend when a friend took me for a spin.
Autumn colours catch the eye everywhere at this time of year. Red, orange and yellow in adundance. The bright red here is the autumn colour of the Rosebay Willowherb, more commonly referred to as Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium). This beautiful plant is used both for food and medicine. Fireweed builds a thriving plant community by spreading its tiny seeds and with lateral root networks. In an island in River Ölfusá this is the case and the plant is overrunning other vegetation.
This rainbow appeared after a rain shower around noon today. Notice that on the inside the sky is brighter than on the outside. Such a perfect rainbow brings to mind Judy Garland´s song “Over the Rainbow” from the Wizard of Oz.
Selfoss waterfall is the little sibling to Dettifoss. To get to it you take an extra walk of about one km up the river. It takes about 10 – 15 minutes from the parking space on the west side. Don’t be tempted to skip it if you are already on the path to Dettifoss.
Selfoss is part of Jökulsárgljúfur National Park.
Dettifoss is one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls, it is also the most powerful one, not only in Iceland but the whole of Europe. Being the location of the breathtaking opening scene of the movie Prometheus has not made it any less attractive to tourists.
Dettifoss is around 45 metres high and 100 metres wide. It is part of Jökulsárgljúfur National Park.
Langanes peninsula is the northeasternmost part of Iceland and a treat for birdwatchers. It is one of the most remote places and there is only a dirt road so you should not be in a hurry. The road leads you to the narrow tip called Fontur where you have the North Atlantic surrounding you in several directions.
In Skoruvíkurbjarg and Skálavíkurbjarg are steep sea cliffs. The area is known for its rich birdlife and at Skoruvíkurbjarg is the second biggest Gannet colony in Iceland.
There is a very good birdwatching platform at Skoruvíkurbjarg where it is possible to see the Gannet, the Brünnich’s Guillemot, the Kittiwake and more at close hand. From the platform you have a view down to Stóri-Karl, a sea rock, which is home to the magnificent Gannet.
