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Sue Estey | profile | all galleries >> Travels in Europe >> 2015 Geological Tour of Iceland tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

2015 Geological Tour of Iceland

We joined geologist Doris Sloan and Icelandic tour guide Elisabet Brand for our first visit to Iceland in August 2015. The tour was organized for the Oakland Museum of California's Natural Sciences Guild. We were rewarded by a grand dose of volcanos, glaciers, and the rift zone between the North American plate and the Eurasian plate. Scenic consequences of these forces are waterfalls, basalt columns, outwash plains, fjords, and a permanent understanding that our planet is always in flux.
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Icelandair got us there. 2015_08_03_Iceland _004.jpg
Icelandair got us there. 2015_08_03_Iceland _004.jpg		 But first, a glimpse of the east coast of Greenland. See any green? 2015_08_03_Iceland _018.jpg
But first, a glimpse of the east coast of Greenland. See any green? 2015_08_03_Iceland _018.jpg		 And then the brown-green coast of Iceland. See any ice? 2015_08_03_Iceland _034.jpg
And then the brown-green coast of Iceland. See any ice? 2015_08_03_Iceland _034.jpg		 Reykjanes Maritime Center has over 100 boat models by Grimur Karlsson and lots of fishing history. 2015_08_04_Iceland _074.jpg
Reykjanes Maritime Center has over 100 boat models by Grimur Karlsson and lots of fishing history. 2015_08_04_Iceland _074.jpg
Flowers in footwear outside the artists' coop. 2015_08_05_Iceland _121.jpg
Flowers in footwear outside the artists' coop. 2015_08_05_Iceland _121.jpg		 Colorful buildings punctuate the town. 2015_08_05_Iceland _123.jpg
Colorful buildings punctuate the town. 2015_08_05_Iceland _123.jpg		 Plenty of flowers blooming. 2015_08_05_Iceland _125.jpg
Plenty of flowers blooming. 2015_08_05_Iceland _125.jpg		 Sod insulates the old buildings. 2015_08_06_Iceland _146.jpg
Sod insulates the old buildings. 2015_08_06_Iceland _146.jpg
Vikingaheimar houses a replica Viking shop built in 1996 and sailed to NYC. 2015_08_06_Iceland _154.jpg
Vikingaheimar houses a replica Viking shop built in 1996 and sailed to NYC. 2015_08_06_Iceland _154.jpg		 The original ship used sail and oarsmen; the replica was required to include an engine. 2015_08_06_Iceland _157.jpg
The original ship used sail and oarsmen; the replica was required to include an engine. 2015_08_06_Iceland _157.jpg		 The museum also has an exhibit on Norse mythology, very colorful. 2015_08_06_Iceland _179.jpg
The museum also has an exhibit on Norse mythology, very colorful. 2015_08_06_Iceland _179.jpg		 Diagram of tectonic plates. 2015_08_07_Iceland _206.jpg
Diagram of tectonic plates. 2015_08_07_Iceland _206.jpg
Love in the rift zone. 2015_08_07_Iceland _211.jpg
Love in the rift zone. 2015_08_07_Iceland _211.jpg		 Viking ship sculpture on the shore in Reykjavik. 2015_08_07_Iceland _257.jpg
Viking ship sculpture on the shore in Reykjavik. 2015_08_07_Iceland _257.jpg		 First view of Harpa, the concert hall that was finished despite the financial crash of 2008. 2015_08_07_Iceland _270.jpg
First view of Harpa, the concert hall that was finished despite the financial crash of 2008. 2015_08_07_Iceland _270.jpg		 Inside Harpa. 2015_08_08_Iceland _378.jpg
Inside Harpa. 2015_08_08_Iceland _378.jpg
Perlan has great views over Reykjavik, and is built on geothermal hot water storage tanks. 2015_08_08_Iceland _333.jpg
Perlan has great views over Reykjavik, and is built on geothermal hot water storage tanks. 2015_08_08_Iceland _333.jpg		 We arrived in time for Gay Pride Festival. 2015_08_08_Iceland _367.jpg
We arrived in time for Gay Pride Festival. 2015_08_08_Iceland _367.jpg		 Knitting is very popular, but this is ont only sweatered bicycle we saw. 2015_08_08_Iceland _445.jpg
Knitting is very popular, but this is ont only sweatered bicycle we saw. 2015_08_08_Iceland _445.jpg		 Þingvellir National Park, where Iceland's government began in 970. 2015_08_09_Iceland _468.jpg
Þingvellir National Park, where Iceland's government began in 970. 2015_08_09_Iceland _468.jpg
A rift in Þingvellir. 2015_08_09_Iceland _524.jpg
A rift in Þingvellir. 2015_08_09_Iceland _524.jpg		 We had lunch in Friðheimar's geothermally warmed cucumber greenhouse. 2015_08_09_Iceland _544.jpg
We had lunch in Friðheimar's geothermally warmed cucumber greenhouse. 2015_08_09_Iceland _544.jpg		 The wind was blowing spume from Gullfoss, a waterfall saved from conversion to a hydropower plant. 2015_08_09_Iceland _608.jpg
The wind was blowing spume from Gullfoss, a waterfall saved from conversion to a hydropower plant. 2015_08_09_Iceland _608.jpg		 Harbor at Heimaey in Vestmannaeyjar (Westmann Isles). 2015_08_09_Iceland _683.jpg
Harbor at Heimaey in Vestmannaeyjar (Westmann Isles). 2015_08_09_Iceland _683.jpg
Stone house in Herjolf's Valley. 2015_08_10_Iceland _802.jpg
Stone house in Herjolf's Valley. 2015_08_10_Iceland _802.jpg		 Cat on the 1973 lava flow. 2015_08_10_Iceland _871.jpg
Cat on the 1973 lava flow. 2015_08_10_Iceland _871.jpg		 Boating tour of the harbor cliffs and birds. 2015_08_10_Iceland _928.jpg
Boating tour of the harbor cliffs and birds. 2015_08_10_Iceland _928.jpg		 We were treated to a short saxophone concert in the sea cave. 2015_08_10_Iceland _965.jpg
We were treated to a short saxophone concert in the sea cave. 2015_08_10_Iceland _965.jpg
Taking the ferry back to mainland Iceland. 2015_08_11_Iceland _1036.jpg
Taking the ferry back to mainland Iceland. 2015_08_11_Iceland _1036.jpg		 This dredge works full time to keep the tenuous ferry harbor clear. 2015_08_11_Iceland _1047.jpg
This dredge works full time to keep the tenuous ferry harbor clear. 2015_08_11_Iceland _1047.jpg		 The harbor is carved out of a shallow outwash plain. 2015_08_11_Iceland _1053.jpg
The harbor is carved out of a shallow outwash plain. 2015_08_11_Iceland _1053.jpg		 Seljalandsfoss drops 200 feet and a path leads behind the falls for wonderful damp fun. 2015_08_11_Iceland _3357.jpg
Seljalandsfoss drops 200 feet and a path leads behind the falls for wonderful damp fun. 2015_08_11_Iceland _3357.jpg
Helpful hands remove rain pants. 2015_08_11_Iceland _3379.jpg
Helpful hands remove rain pants. 2015_08_11_Iceland _3379.jpg		 Columnar basalt at Black Sands Beach near Vik, on the south coast. 2015_08_11_Iceland _1188.jpg
Columnar basalt at Black Sands Beach near Vik, on the south coast. 2015_08_11_Iceland _1188.jpg		 Typical breakfast, with Icelandic cucumbers and tomatoes. 2015_08_12_Iceland _1274.jpg
Typical breakfast, with Icelandic cucumbers and tomatoes. 2015_08_12_Iceland _1274.jpg		 One stream carries glacial flour, the other is clear. 2015_08_12_Iceland _1317.jpg
One stream carries glacial flour, the other is clear. 2015_08_12_Iceland _1317.jpg
Amphibious boat to tour Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon. 2015_08_12_Iceland _3427.jpg
Amphibious boat to tour Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon. 2015_08_12_Iceland _3427.jpg		 Icelandair Hotel Natura has some stiffs in the lobby. 2015_08_13_Iceland _1388.jpg
Icelandair Hotel Natura has some stiffs in the lobby. 2015_08_13_Iceland _1388.jpg		 Dandelions are frequently sighted. 2015_08_13_Iceland _1504.jpg
Dandelions are frequently sighted. 2015_08_13_Iceland _1504.jpg		 The church in Möðrudalur, the highest settlement. 2015_08_13_Iceland _1512.jpg
The church in Möðrudalur, the highest settlement. 2015_08_13_Iceland _1512.jpg
In the bird museum at Lake Myvatn. 2015_08_14_Iceland _1783.jpg
In the bird museum at Lake Myvatn. 2015_08_14_Iceland _1783.jpg		 Námafjall Hverir the Northern steam fields. 2015_08_15_Iceland _1855.jpg
Námafjall Hverir the Northern steam fields. 2015_08_15_Iceland _1855.jpg		 Sue on lava from the Krafla volcanic eruption (1975-1984) 2015_08_15_Iceland _2011.jpg
Sue on lava from the Krafla volcanic eruption (1975-1984) 2015_08_15_Iceland _2011.jpg		 Platanthera hyperborea, Northern Green Orchid. 2015_08_15_Iceland _2110.jpg
Platanthera hyperborea, Northern Green Orchid. 2015_08_15_Iceland _2110.jpg
Geothermal field associated with Krafla. 2015_08_15_Iceland _2189.jpg
Geothermal field associated with Krafla. 2015_08_15_Iceland _2189.jpg		 Arctic Henge at Raufarhöfn, a long-term project. 2015_08_16_Iceland _2393.jpg
Arctic Henge at Raufarhöfn, a long-term project. 2015_08_16_Iceland _2393.jpg		 At Hljóðaklettar, (Echo rocks) by the Jökulsá river. Wild basalt. 2015_08_16_Iceland _2484.jpg
At Hljóðaklettar, (Echo rocks) by the Jökulsá river. Wild basalt. 2015_08_16_Iceland _2484.jpg		 Harbor at Husavik. 2015_08_17_Iceland _2536.jpg
Harbor at Husavik. 2015_08_17_Iceland _2536.jpg
Old Farmhouse Laufas museum near Akureyri. 2015_08_17_Iceland _2666.jpg
Old Farmhouse Laufas museum near Akureyri. 2015_08_17_Iceland _2666.jpg		 Björk and Birkir, Birch liqueur and schnapps. 2015_08_17_Iceland _2742.jpg
Björk and Birkir, Birch liqueur and schnapps. 2015_08_17_Iceland _2742.jpg		 1 of 3 tunnels en route to Siglufjörður. 2015_08_18_Iceland _2888.jpg
1 of 3 tunnels en route to Siglufjörður. 2015_08_18_Iceland _2888.jpg		 Siglufjörður Herring Museum. 2015_08_18_Iceland _2933.jpg
Siglufjörður Herring Museum. 2015_08_18_Iceland _2933.jpg
Atlas engine made in Oakland, CA, generated power for the herring factory. 2015_08_18_Iceland _3036.jpg
Atlas engine made in Oakland, CA, generated power for the herring factory. 2015_08_18_Iceland _3036.jpg		 Norwegian touring cyclist. 2015_08_18_Iceland _2988.jpg
Norwegian touring cyclist. 2015_08_18_Iceland _2988.jpg		 Akureyri botanical garden. 2015_08_18_Iceland _3150.jpg
Akureyri botanical garden. 2015_08_18_Iceland _3150.jpg		 Flying from Akureyri to Reykjavik. 2015_08_19_Iceland _3252.jpg
Flying from Akureyri to Reykjavik. 2015_08_19_Iceland _3252.jpg
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