Bei dieser Tour wirst du den berühmt-berüchtigten Vulkan Eyjafjallajökull mit einem Superjeep befahren, und die magischen Polarlichter von der Eiskappe aus beobachten.
Während der Winterzeit hast du in Island die einzigartige Gelegenheit, die Nordlichter am Himmel zu erspähen. Dieses Phänomen ist selten und eines der wunderbarsten Spektakel der Natur. Was gäbe es da besseres, als die bunten Lichter vom Eyjafjallajökull aus zu beobachten, dem Vulkan, der 2010 den gesamten Luftverkehr zum Erliegen brachte.
Unsere erfahrenen Guides werden dich sicher über die Eiskappe fahren und dir die beste Gelegenheit bieten, die Lichter zu sehen und dein isländisches Winterabenteuer zu komplimentieren. Das Farbenspiel am sternenklaren Nachthimmel vom Gipfel eines Gletschervulkans aus zu betrachten ist ein wirklich einzigartiges und ungewöhnliches Erlebnis.
Reserviere dir einen Platz, indem du ein Datum auswählst.
Kurzinfo
Tour-Informationen:
Verfügbarkeit: Okt. - Mär.
Dauer:
3 Stunden
Aktivitäten: Super-Jeep, Nordlichter-Jagd
Schwierigkeitsstufe: Einfach
Sprachen: English
Höhepunkte:
The Westman Islands have the largest nest of Puffins in the world and you may see many whales around the island. Heimaey is the only one that is inhabited.
In 1973 the islands gained international attention with the eruption of Eldfell volcano in Heimaey, which destroyed many buildings, and forced a months-long evacuation of the entire population to the mainland. In an eruption at the seafloor in 1963 a new island was formed, Surtsey.
The ferry Herjolfur sails to the Westman Islands from the town of Thorlakshofn, on the south shore of Iceland and from Landeyjahofn harbour. The latter is located south of the small town of Hvolsvollur. The harbour was built in 2010 and remains at an experimental stage, its future useage as of yet unclear. Fares are lower on this route and the route itself is faster, as a one way trip from the harbour takes about 30 minutes, but this is entirely dependant on favourable weather- and harbour conditions. Otherwise the Thorlakshofn harbour will be used. There are also flights to the islands.
The glacier volcano of Eyjafjallajokull (1651 m) is located at the borders of the South Icelandic highlands. It featured prominently in world news in 2010 when ash from its eruption halted air traffic in Europe.
An ice cap of about 100 km with several outlet glaciers covers the caldera of Eyjafjallajökull that stands at the height of 1651 meters. The diamaeter of its highest crater is around 3-4 km2 wide and the rim has several peaks.
Eyjafjallajokull glacier volcano lies north of Skogar, and to the west of Myrdalsjokull glacier and the massive volcano there; Katla.
Eyjafjallajokull is thought to be related geologically to Katla in Myrdalsjokull and eruptions in the former have often been followed by eruptions in the latter.
The 2010 eruptions
The end of 2010 saw some small seismic activity that gradually increased and resulted in a small eruption in March of 2010, characterized by a flow of alkani-olivine basalt lava.
This first stage lasted until April 12th and created the volcanic craters Magni and Modi at the Fimmvorduhals trail. They are so far Iceland's newest vocanic craters, and still eminate steam with lava glowing under the surface.
However it was the second phase of the eruption that started on April 14th that created the huge ash cloud that rose about 9 km into the skies.
This eruption halted air traffic in Europe for days, and its estimated that as many as 107.000 flights may have been cancelled during the week it lasted.
The ejected tephra measured around 250 million cubic meters. This ash cloud lasted for six days and some more localized disruption continued into May. The eruption was officially declared to be over in October 2010, as the snow on the glacier had ceased to melt.
Future volcanic developments?
Eyjafjallajokull erupted in years 920, 1612 and again 1821-1823.
Its latest eruptions were the two that occurred in 2010.
Future volcanic developments remain unclear. The area is still highly active and can be quite unpredictable. It continues, however, to be closely monitored by The Icelandic Meterological Office.
The South Coast of Iceland is the country's most visited sightseeing route, along with the Golden Circle.
The famed South Coast shoreline stretches from the greater Reykjavík area and is dotted with natural wonders such as cascading waterfalls, volcanoes both active and dormant, black sand beaches and glacier lagoons.
Geography, Nature & Wildlife
Iceland is divided into eight geographical regions. Out of these, the Southern Region is the largest, as it spans over 24.000 square kilometres with its administrative centre in the municipality of Selfoss.
What is known as the South Coast embodies the shoreline of this particular region. The area consists of a lowland that is mostly composed of marshlands, bays and cultivated pastures that are met by a series of black beaches where the estuaries to the east and west of the district close off the coastal body.
Underneath the soil rests a vast lava field, known as Þjórsárhraun. Its edges reach several hundred metres offshore where the ocean waves crash upon them, thereby protecting the lowland from the invasion of the sea. This results in the South Coast being unusually lacking in the deep fjords that so distinctly characterise the rest of Iceland's shore line.
The region boasts vibrant bird life during all seasons. It is not only rich with both marshland birds and seabirds but also migrating birds such as the North Atlantic puffin. Some species stay throughout the harsh Icelandic winter, including the northern diver, the loom and various species of gulls and ducks.
Highlights of the South Coast
The South Coast offers an unprecedented array of natural wonders that draw thousands of visitors each day. When driving the route from Reykjavík City, the highlights in their correct order are:
These attractions count for but a fraction of what the South Coast has to offer. The vast sand plains of Sólheimasandur are home to a crashed DC-3 Plane Wreck, and close to Seljavellir by the Skógar Village there's Seljavallalaug, one of the oldest swimming pools in Iceland.
