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Sheep & Volcanoes

That Iceland is full of volcanoes and waterfalls I already knew. Omnipresence of sheep came as kind of a surprise.


Geography of Iceland makes most of the routes look very similar. Good quality "ring road" along the coast and difficult interior which can be accessed only with a 4WD.



Trip map courtesy of Wanderlog, a vacation planner on iOS and Android

Sheep in the north

Iceland without private transport would be somewhere between very difficult and impossible, so this trip was the first camper van experience ever

One goes to Iceland because of nature. Waterfalls, gorges, canyons, cliffs - they are all over the island and they are rather picturesque

I've lost count of all the waterfalls we've seen on our way and each of them more spectacular than 99% of all waterfalls in the continental Europe

Iceland is a good hiking destination too, even without venturing into the interior (and I say that being in Swiss Alps every other weekend!)

Speaking of which, trying not to hit a sheep is a difficult task. Icelandic sheep are not the most fearful animals in the world and can sleep on a road happily ignoring passing cars

Some say they are ugly. Are they?

Another unusual experience on the road is related to massive numbers of birds along the coast. Birds ignorance of rules when crossing the street can be only superseded by sheep

And there's more coming!

Coastal town of Husavik is Iceland's capital of whale watching. Whale watching is not the best activity for taking pictures (not only because of freezing wind) so here's a pic of the harbor instead

It's good to look chic even on a speedboat just outside of the arctic circle - you never know whom you can meet out there

Sunny day behind Arctic Circle

Morning visit to our van was likely a result of breakfast in the making. Unable to succeed with the breakfast our new friend ran away with a glove, but who would need a glove anyway?

Certainly not Icelanders who feel cold differently

Limited diversity of animals certainly doesn't apply to landscape. From coastal cliffs...

... through moon-like emptiness...

... volcanic beaches...

... to Lord of the Rings kind of mountainous landscape

You've probably noticed blue flowers. There are only few places without them. Most of the island is in bloom in June

One of the few places without what turns out to be Alaskan lupine are huge moss fields covering some hills.

Walking in them is as pleasant as is looks 🙂


Sheep in the south

There are also places where nothing grows. In the past Iceland used to sell sulphur from here to support production of gunpowder

Speaking of sulphur, not far from the place is what used to be called the gates of hell. Coincidence?

Iceland in June is not too scary though. When sun sets at 1AM and raises at 1:30AM this is the closest you can get to darkness

Midnight pictures don't require special light (or skill)

If you really feel cold you can always take a shower in the middle of nowhere (the water was hot! Tested!)

US plane which crashed on the beach long time ago is still there

Try to bomb these

One can dive in a place where two tectonic plates collide. Not as dangerous as it sounds. Safety first.

Waterfalls, volcanoes, sheep - obviously there are also geysers.

How else can this write up end if not with yet another waterfall?


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Location: Iceland

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