- Ryan Pigeau
- Mar 13, 2019
- 3 min read
Although the traditional approach to a vacation is a five-star resort nestled on a tropical beach, Iceland is becoming an increasingly popular vacation destination for people who are looking for a completely unique experience. This otherworldly place is full of natural geographic wonders and experiences that would get me up off the beaches and plunge me into non-stop scenic views and adventure. Regardless of if we are catching a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis or the Golden Circle, witnessing the inside of a glacier or experiencing 24-hour daylight during the months of the “Midnight Sun,” (mid-May to late July) it sounds like there is never a dull moment in this sight-seeing land.
If I find myself craving a beach day, Iceland has no shortage of those. However, it’s the colour of these beaches that leaves most tourists in awe. Reynisfjara Djúpalónssandur and Breiðamerkursandur are two of the most popular beaches in the country, they are sights to behold and for good reason. Both of them consist of black pebble beaches; a scene so beautiful and unique, I assume one must physically witness for themselves up close to truly appreciate. As for Breiðamerkursandur, it is actually considered a “diamond beach.” Not only is it made of black pebbles, but it also covered with ice “diamonds” all year long – chunks of ice that have been smoothed and refined in the ocean’s current before finally being washed up on these black beaches, polished like diamonds.
Thanks to its geological location along a split in the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, Iceland is crawling with volcanic areas (Reykjavik and Akureyri) and makes it a prime candidate for generating geothermal energy (or, an even better candidate for sight-seeing). Amazingly, during the winter months, the pavements near these places are significantly heated up because of the geothermal heat. Expectedly, more than 26% of the country’s electricity is generated by any one of the five major geothermal power plants.
Many explorers want to get their own personal experience of the famous blue lagoon, a geothermal lake of crisp, blue, mineral-rich water, provided by underground geological layers and pushed up to the surface by the hot water of the lagoon. It is easily one of the most visited attractions in Iceland. Rich in silica as well as sulfur, the characteristics of this natural bath are said to be great for the skin and are rumoured to have healing properties for those with conditions like psoriasis. They also operate a research and development facility to help find cures for other skin conditions using the specialized water. This geothermal spa is located in a lava field and the temperature of the water is always between 99-102 degrees Fahrenheit, thanks to the heat from the lava flow. It’s a personal bucket-list item on my future trip to this breathtaking country. On the other end of the temperature scale, I would also have to include the glacier tour at Langjökull (in western Iceland) on this bucket-list itinerary. The “Long Glacier,” as it is translated, is the second-largest glacier in the country at 935 square kilometers. It plunges a group of explorers 500 meters into the heart of it and reveals some shockingly blue ice in its deepest sections.
Appropriately referred to as “the Land of Fire and Ice,” Iceland invokes a true mystique. Many travellers still take a traditional approach to a vacation getaway, spending a week lounging in a beach chair, but Iceland may be the destination calling your name for those who are willing to test their boundaries and adventure off of the well-travelled path.
