Destination Spotlight

Iceland: Fire and Ice

It’s like no other place on earth: The lush landscape of Iceland, from steaming waters to snow-capped mountains, will captivate you with its natural wonders! Relax in steaming waters heated by the earth’s core, feel your heart race with thundering waterfalls, and stand where the Earth literally comes together at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Did you know that this country is only a 5 hour flight from Washington, D.C.? It is almost as close as flying to California. This country offers first-hand science, sustainable energy and adventure. Having recently returned from this raw landscape I am encouraged to see humans embrace sustainable energy. Icelanders take pride in their utilization of hydroelectric and geothermal energy. One interesting fact that I learned was that the people have two water systems. They draw water from either the hot water system or the cold water system. They do not have just a cold water system and rely on some form of energy to heat the cold water.

Being a bit of a science geek, I found the experience walking along the edge of the North American Plate to be extremely rewarding. This divergent plate boundary, located over a hot spot leads to volcanic and seismic activity. This is a geologically active location provides plenty of cultural experiences. Not only do I find the Viking culture to be of interest, I am a fan of the series Vikings and Game of Thrones .

In addition, there is plenty of adventure to find in Iceland. Whether you want to hike on a glacier, walk behind a waterfall, scale lava or soak in a geothermal spring you are sure to get your adrenaline pumping. You can even geocache throughout this country. I look forward to the opportunity when I can return to this sub-arctic island.

Hopefully next time the Aurora Borealis will be more prominent.

Viking Beach Iceland

Vatnajokull Iceland

Iceland Southern Coast