Iceland - Vatnajökull National Park - dynamic nature of fire and ice

"This iconic volcanic region covers an area of over 1,400,000 ha, nearly 14% of Iceland's territory. It numbers ten central volcanoes, eight of which are subglacial. Two of these are among the most active in Iceland. The interaction between volcanoes and the rifts that underlie the Vatnajökull ice cap takes many forms, the most spectacular of which is the jökulhlaup – a sudden flood caused by the breach of the margin of a glacier during an eruption. This recurrent phenomenon has led to the emergence of unique sandur plains, river systems and rapidly evolving canyons. Volcanic areas are home to endemic groundwater fauna that has survived the Ice Age."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

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2019 UNESCO World Heritage of Vatnajokull, National Park, Iceland. Glacier cave of Vatnajokull. Thanks to Patrik of Estonia who was visiting Iceland.

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Svartofoss Waterfall in Vatnajokull National Park, Iceland. Thanks to Marie who was on holiday in Iceland.

Iceland - Þingvellir National Park

"Þingvellir (Thingvellir) is the National Park where the Althing – an open-air assembly, which represented the whole of Iceland – was established in 930 and continued to meet until 1798. Over two weeks a year, the assembly set laws – seen as a covenant between free men – and settled disputes. The Althing has deep historical and symbolic associations for the people of Iceland. The property includes the Þingvellir National Park and the remains of the Althing itself: fragments of around 50 booths built from turf and stone. Remains from the 10th century are thought to be buried underground. The site also includes remains of agricultural use from the 18th and 19th centuries. The park shows evidence of the way the landscape was husbanded over 1,000 years." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

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Aerial view of Pingvelli National Park. Postmarked REYKJAVIK Aug 5, 2014 and arrived in Penang island on Aug 25, 2014. Thanks to Patrik of Estonia.

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Postcard of Thingvellir National Park bought in Iceland and mailed from Luxembourg. Thanks to Michael of Luxembourg who was visiting Iceland.




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View Thingvllier National Park of Iceland. Thanks to Ingo of Germany.

Iceland - Surtsey

"Surtsey, a volcanic island approximately 32 km from the south coast of Iceland, is a new island formed by volcanic eruptions that took place from 1963 to 1967. It is all the more outstanding for having been protected since its birth, providing the world with a pristine natural laboratory. Free from human interference, Surtsey has been producing unique long-term information on the colonisation process of new land by plant and animal life. Since they began studying the island in 1964, scientists have observed the arrival of seeds carried by ocean currents, the appearance of moulds, bacteria and fungi, followed in 1965 by the first vascular plant, of which there were 10 species by the end of the first decade. By 2004, they numbered 60 together with 75 bryophytes, 71 lichens and 24 fungi. Eighty-nine species of birds have been recorded on Surtsey, 57 of which breed elsewhere in Iceland. The 141 ha island is also home to 335 species of invertebrates." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

The volcanic eruption from under the ocean to create Surtsey Island is an amazing natural phenomena. Nice night view showing the hot red lava flow. Thanks to Regina of Iceland.