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Treks in Icelands 2009

Trekking with Fjallabak

Iceland is a fascinating country of rare and wild beauty. Captured within its coastline is an intriguing combination of diverse landscapes and dynamic natural forces: active volcanoes, erupting geysers, rising mountains, shifting glaciers, lava deserts, craters, glacial flood plains and thermal springs.

Because of its northern position in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean at the latitude of 66° north, Iceland is influenced not only by the Arctic, but also by the warm waters of the gulf stream. This combination allows for both immense glaciers and lush verdant flood plains.

Iceland straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Running the length of the country, north to south, the ridge is formed by the separating of the North American and Eurasian plates, each moving away from the other. This movement has not only caused Iceland to grow slowly in landmass; it is the cause of a considerable amount of volcanic activity. Iceland has over 100 volcanoes, 25 of which have been active in recent history. The island is sitting on an extraordinary amount of geothermic energy.

While all this volcanic activity has caused the interior of Iceland to remain largely uninhabitable, the country and landscape possess a rare and wild beauty; the land itself feeling almost alive, as though it is still in the process of forming, primal. Geysers spout astounding columns of water. Waterfalls roar with unbridled power, the ground steams, and mud pots boil suggesting subterranean lava rivers. Rhyolite hills radiate reds and yellows, and gentle green slopes fall out of the mist to meet secluded hot springs. Black lava desserts stretch to the feet of vast, magnificent glaciers spreading like grand, frozen oceans.

Iceland has no indigenous population. It was settled in the 800's by the Norse and a scattering of Irish monks. Today's inhabitants are largely descended from these original settlers and their language has remained largely unchanged. Of a population of 270, 000, almost half now live in or around Reykjavik, the rest are spread along the coastline. But, if anything defines Iceland, it is the country, the land itself.

Fjallabak, an Icelandic Trekking Company, offers a variety of trips to Iceland, including week-long bird watching trips to strenuous hut-to-hut hikes. Each trip focuses on a different area and aspect of the natural wonders of Iceland.

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