Posted Sep 5, 2012, 12:38 PM
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Hong Kong
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,670
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Iceland's Highway 1 is the only route the circles the island nation, running over 1300 km across towns, natural wonders, and incredible landscapes.
It is morning in Vik, a small town on the southern shore of Iceland. The rain and fog are back, and the neat rocks just off the coast are barely visible.
So many waterfalls could be seen along the ring road eastwards.
There were also a lot of sheep. Tasty lamb chops were common across Icelandic restaurants!
Blocks of ice that have broken off the Vatnajökull glacier fill up Jökulsárlón's glacial lagoon. Like the glaciers I've toured in Canada, these chunks retained the deep blue traits.
With global warming, would there be more glacial chunks filling up the lagoon going forward?
It was way past lunch time upon arrival in Höfn. This fishing town is also by the sea, but further east from Vik.
The rain would not cease, but despite the unpleasant weather, the photos still are able to convey the obvious livelihood of this town - fishing.
This town actually doesn't have many restaurants. We had to ask around to find a lobster dinner. Apparently, Höfn is famous for lobster!
After a night's rest, the drive continues across Iceland's east, then turning to the country's north. Stopping just outside Höfn, the morning tranquility was eerie but beautiful.
There were lots of mountains and vegetation-filled plains. This part of Iceland is still lush.
The coastal scenery was beautiful. It was very different from the glacial views from the day before.
Highway 1 is not really a big road by international standards. It was 1 lane in each direction, and drivers policed themselves to let others pass safely.
Although the ocean was beautiful, there was a lot of territory to cover today, so it was time to divert onto a gravel road to cut across the mountains near Berufjordhur.
Two lost sheep were suddenly trapped on the hillside as our photography troupe approached, initially to photograph the waterfalls, but soon all attention went to them.
I'm not a geologist, but the facade seems to tell a rich history.
After a harrowing drive up steep gradients on gravel, experiencing snowfall in the upper elevations, and a fun descent back to the plains, it was time for a gas and lunch stop at Egilsstaðir.
This supermarket chain fed us throughout the trip.
Like the other towns along the route, this one was also not big. The airport was within walking distance from the town itself.
More photos on my website : http://www.globalphotos.org/iceland-hwy1.htm
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