Snaefellsjökull

Today I am exploring the Snaefellsjökull national park. Snaefellsjökull is the big 1446m peak in the centre. Its considered an active volcano- but hasn’t done much since 200AD when the top of the mountain exploded and then caved in leaving a crater that now contains a glacier. Its a rather shy mountain and usually hides in a cloud.
I’m not heading up the mountain but I am exploring the coastline. No camping is allowed in the national park so I need to pick and choose and fit it into a single day. The highlight spots are popular with plenty of other tourists. But in between its pretty quiet and I have the big skies and vast landscapes to myself. Snaefellsjökull obviously produced quite some quantity of lava. It varies in colour and texture and (before investigating the hostory) I wonder just how long it has taken to grow the moss and other plants. I am a bit surprised to look it up and find that it is centuries of work.
The number of things to see is astonishing and it takes courage to pass by several and pick just a few. I am rather weary (unfit!) from the previous few days. I enjoy visiting the mini volcano and 2 sets of bird cliffs. Plus the lava, the cliffs, the views…Read more