Landscape Photography and a Solar Eclipse

Next Day Next N

Friday, 31 July 2026 - A small group tour of the Reykjanes Peninsula exploring Kleifarvatn, colorful geothermal springs and bubbling mud pots before visiting the recently lava-scarred town of Grindavík. The day continued through dramatic lava fields to the Reykjanes Lighthouse, Gunnuhver’s geothermal landscape, and the Bridge Between Continents - a spectacular introduction to Icelands volcanic character.

A rather short trip to Iceland compared to our recent trips to Antarctica and Turkey. The wall clock time was almost 24 hours with waits in Atlanta and Detroit. We were late taking off from Detroit, then on arrival my driver was still 15 minutes away. The delays cut into the time I had before a planned small group trip at 1000 hrs. The driver was able to get me to the pickup hotel 10 minutes prior to 1000 which gave me enough time to change from travel clothes into more rugged touring threads.

The tour was "Reykjavík: Volcanoes, Grindavík, Hot Springs, and Lava Tour" which visited the area near Reykjavík. The bus was full - with the only empty seat next to me, so I had room for my camera bag.

iceland2026
Our first stop was Kleifarvatn, the largest lake on the Reykjanes Peninsula which also was home to the airport and just south of Reykjavík. The lake has no visible water coming in or going out as most of its water comes and leaves underground.

A beautiful day. You can see the lava rosks in the foreground - the entire country is one big lava flow.
iceland2026
Not very far we stopped at the Seltún Hot Springs area. The high sulphur content of the springs gives them a characteristic yellow-orange color. The hot spring water is heated from underground geothermal sources and emerges through deep cracks and vents.
iceland2026
Interesting underwater formations in the hot springs.
iceland2026
And a crowd favorite the Mud Pots. So fun to watch the bubbling mud.
iceland2026
In the hot water brightly colored stones and gray silt.
iceland2026
At this location in 1999 an explosion caused by an experimental drill hole from 1948-49 becoming clogged with deposits. The result is now a pond created in a beautiful geothermal setting.
iceland2026
Patches of fluffy white cotton grass growing along the banks of a shallow, winding stream leading away from the geothermal area.
iceland2026
Right next to the parking lot is a very active pool of very hot bubbling mud.
iceland2026
We then drove to the town of Grindavík a fishing town which has been surrounded by lava from 2023-2025 volcanic eruptions. In 2023 the town was evacuated, and in 2024 a fissure opened just outside the town and several buildings were destroyed. There is a memorial we visited in the town center.

We then went to lunch (great lobster soup) at the harbor, where this building was located.
iceland2026
The Bláalónsvegur Road Lava Field is left over from the 2023-25 eruptions. Lava is frozen in time 20 or 30 feet high stretching out as far as you can see.
iceland2026
Dashes of color in the magma - suspect iron deposits.
iceland2026
Hills across the highway from the lava fields covered in green.
iceland2026
The Reykjanes Lighthouse is located at the end of the Reykjanes Peninsula. The first lighthouse in Iceland was built here in the year 1878. By 1905 earthquakes and surf had damaged it so much that there was the risk of the lighthouse falling into the sea. This lighthouse was built in 1907-1908 on Bæjarfell hill.
iceland2026
The coast below the lighthouse is Valahnúkamöl where the lava rock is exposed to the sea,
iceland2026
Small volcanic rock offshore.
iceland2026
A much larger rock offshore
iceland2026
The island Eldey is a 250 foot high sheer rock island 10 miles off the coast. Eldey is a part of a cluster of rocks and skerries extending 50 miles out to sea called Fuglasker or Bird-skerries. Eldey is by far the biggest Gannet colony in Iceland. Around 30,000 pairs of Gannets breed in Iceland, and of those, around 16,000 are in Eldey.
iceland2026
Gunnuhver is an active geothermal area of hot springs, mud pools and fumaroles.
iceland2026
An Icelandic folktale links the name 'Gunnuhver' ('Gunna's hot spring') to Guðrún Önundardóttir ("Gunna"), a woman said to have quarreled with her landlord over unpaid rent and the seizure of her cooking pot. After Gunna's death, the story relates that she haunted the area until a pastor lured her spirit toward a hot spring using a ball of yarn; in many versions the ghost falls into the steaming pool, and the place thereafter bears her name.
iceland2026
In the distance is a power station tapping into the hot water to power homes and provide hot water.
iceland2026
Our last stop was the Bridge Between Continents, which is a bit of tourist theatrics. It is a symbolic bridge between the two tectonic plates (North America and European) moving under Iceland and making their presence felt in the many fissures in the area.
iceland2026
The North America and European tectonic plates are moving apart at .8 of an inch a year. As they pull apart, fissures open and lava flows out onto the surface. The zone of fissures is several miles wide.
iceland2026
A beautiful day with small flowers in the area.
iceland2026
I was dropped off at the pickup hotel, the Hilton, which was not my hotel. I had to roll my bags down a small slope to where I was staying. I only passed a few buildings and one was the American Embassy - across the street from the Hilton Hotel and not very dramatic.
Next Day Next N
Back to top
Cal and VA | Adventures | Iceland
© Cal and Virginia Ann Holman
All Rights Reserved 2000-2026 · Do not use without permission.
Privacy Policy · Terms
Modified last on 2026-08-31