승마와 즐기는 아이슬란드의 화산 지대 투어

Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland and the northernmost capital of any sovereign state in the world.

Despite a small population (approximately 120,000, with just over 200,000 in the Greater Reykjavík area), it is a vibrant city that draws an ever increasing number of visitors every year. It is the financial, cultural and political centre of Iceland, and has a reputation of being one of the cleanest and safest cities in the world.

Geography

The city of Reykjavík is located in southwest Iceland by Faxaflói Bay. Throughout the ages, the landscape has been shaped by glaciers, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and the area is geothermal; after all, its name translates to ‘Smoky Bay’.

Much of the current city area was subglacial during the Ice Age, with the glacier reaching as far as the Álftanes peninsula, while other areas lay under the sea.  After the end of the Ice Age, the land rose as the glaciers drifted away, and it began to take on its present form.

The coastline of Reykjavík is set with peninsulas, coves, straits and islands, most notably the island of Viðey, and seabirds and whales frequent the shores. The mountain ring as seen from the shore is particularly beautiful.

Mount Esjan is the highest mountain in the vicinity of Reykjavík and the most distinctive feature of the coastline. This majestic summit is also highly popular amongst hikers and climbers. Other notable mountains that can be seen from the seaside are Akrafjall and Skarðsheiði.

On clear days, one may even see as far to the legendary Snæfellsjökull glacier, at the end of the Snæfellsnes peninsula.

The largest river to run through the city is Elliðaá in Elliðaárdalur valley, which is also one of Iceland’s best rivers for salmon fishing.

Transportation

There are no trains or trams in Iceland, but most people travel by car. The city also operates a bus system. There are two major harbours in town, the old harbour in the centre and Sundahöfn in the east.

The domestic Reykjavík Airport is located at Vatnsmýrin, not far from the city centre and close to the hill Öskjuhlíð and the restaurant, vantage point and exhibition centre Perlan. The international Keflavík Airport at Miðnesheiði heath then lies around 50 kilometres (31 miles) from the city.

Cars, jeeps and bicycles can be readily rented in the city and many organized tours are also being offered. It is, however, quite easy to walk between the major sites.

What to See & Do in Reykjavik

The local arts scene is strong in Iceland, with annual events and festivals, many of artists from which have hit the international stage.

Major events taking place in Reykjavík include Iceland Airwaves, Reykjavík Pride, RIFF (The Reykjavík International Film Festival), The Reykjavík Literature Festival, Culture Night, the Reykjavík Arts Festival, Food & Fun, the Reykjavík Fashion Festival and the Sónar music festival.

Amongst the famous people from Reykjavík are musicians like Björk Guðmundsdóttir and Sigur Rós, and writers Halldór Laxness (born on the main street, Laugavegur) and Arnaldur Indriðason.

Those eager to soak up the local culture should visit the city’s many museums, exhibitions and galleries, and check out live music at the cafés, bars, and concert venues dotted around. You could look at the programmes of what’s on at the Harpa music hall or the theatres, or else plan a few hours at the lighthouse at Grótta, the shopping street of Laugavegur, or the old harbour and the flea market.

You could even book a bird- and whale watching tour or a visit to Viðey island. There are a lot of things to do and the possibilities are endless.

Make sure to visit the public square of Austurvöllur, one of the city’s most popular gathering places, where you’ll also find the national parliament, the Alþingi, as well as the state church, a statue of independence hero Jón Sigurðsson, cafés, bars and restaurants.

Austurvöllur was central in the protests following the banking collapse of 2008, along with Lækjargata, home to the House of Government. You are also not likely to miss the great church of Hallgrímskirkja that towers over the city from the hill of Skólavörðuholt, from which you’ll get a great view of the city.

Try a walk by the city pond, Tjörnin, to greet the many birds that frequent the area and to visit the city hall, stationed by its banks. A beautiful park lies by the pond, ideal for a nice walk, and sometimes concerts get held there.

Further off is the campus of the University of Iceland, the Nordic house and the Vatnsmýrin wetland, a particularly pleasant place, but be mindful to not disturb the wildlife there by keeping to the pathways.

For a nice swim on a warm day, we particularly recommend Nauthólsvík beach, which is heated with geothermal water. Those who love a dip should also visit the Laugardalur valley, home to one of the city’s best swimming pools, which sits a short walk away from Ásmundarsafn gallery, a beautiful botanical garden and a domestic zoo.

A walk by the Ægissíða beach, with its old fishing sheds, in the west part of Reykjavík also holds a particular charm. From there, you can see all the way to president’s house at Bessastaðir, which is also a historical site in its own right, having been the educational centre of Iceland for centuries. 

Another place that offers one of the city’s best views is Perlan, up on Öskjuhlíð hill. The hill itself is a popular place to spend a few hours, with over 176,000 trees and great opportunities for walking and cycling. Perlan also has and observation deck with great views, a café and an exhibition centre.

Furthermore, the city is a short drive from many of Iceland’s major attractions, most famously the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon. In close vicinity you’ll also find the Heiðmörk preservation area, a favourite local site of the people of Reykjavík, as well as the Blue Mountains, one of Iceland’s best skiing venues.

Finally, we’d like to stress that these are only some suggestions of the many things you might check out in Reykjavík. Whatever you choose to do, we hope you’ll be able to make the most of your visit and we wish you a pleasant stay in our capital.

Wikimedia, Creative Commons, photo by Reykholt

The Blue Mountains, otherwise known as Bláfjöll, are a beautiful mountain range in the south-west of Iceland. They hold some of the most popular skiing slopes in Iceland, and well as the potential for other activities such as caving and hiking.

The Blue Mountains are located around 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Reykjavík, by the lava plateau of Hellisheiði.

Geology of the Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains partially cover the Mid Atlantic Rift, which runs through Iceland. The very regular earthquakes and sporadic eruptions, therefore, are explained the high level of geological and geothermal activity that this rift creates.

Most of the mountains are now dormant, not having erupted since the last Ice Age, but not all.

Due to their formation, the Blue Mountains are composed of tuff rock.

Activities in the Blue Mountains

As mentioned, the Blue Mountains has some of the most popular slopes in Iceland. Being so accessible from Reykjavík, just a twenty five minute drive away, the region draws those who love to ski and snowboard from the beginning of February to the end of April.

Due to these opening dates, winter sports have become somewhat of an Easter tradition for many of those living in the capital.

The resort here is the largest in Iceland, and boasts 16 ski lifts, and 15 kilometres (nine miles) of slopes. Equipment can be rented on site, and there are regular lessons taught for newcomers. Regardless of if you are a novice or expert, there are slopes for all abilities.

Cross country skiing is also very popular in the area, but should only be done by those experienced, or with a trained guide. Some snowmobilers also make the most of the opportunities the mountain provides.

Other areas for skiing in Iceland include Akureyri and Skaftafell Nature Reserve.

A popular activity that can be enjoyed in the Blue Mountains throughout the year, however, is lava caving. Due to the the volcanism of the area, the plateaus around the mountains are composed of many layers of lava rock.

When this lava first cooled, it did so from the outside in, leaving running magma beneath it. If this magma had a place to flow out to, it would form a lava cave.

Leiðarendi is a beautiful tunnel, formed in a kind of ring that allows visitors to fully explore it. Trips to Iceland’s lava caves provide wonderful opportunities to learn about the nation’s geology, history of bandits, and folklore, particularly the tolls.

This lava tube also demonstrates the volcanism of the Blue Mountains. It was, in fact, created by two seperate eruptions, one two thousand years ago and one a thousand years ago. The lava tunnels formed in each collapsed together at what is now the entrance of the cave.

Much of the area around this cave and much of the Blue Mountains is covered in a delicate moss, that creeps over the lava. When visiting any area with this unique flora, such as hiking trails through the mountains, be careful not to step on it as it is remarkably delicate

Kópavogur is a municipality in the Capital Region of Iceland. It is the largest town of those surrounding Reykjavík City, as well as being the second most populated municipality in the country at over 32.000 residents. 

The name of the town translates to 'Seal Pup Bay' and refers to the seals that reside in the ocean by the shoreline of the town's oldest part.  The town's Sigil is green and white and displays the Church of Kópavogur, the town's most notable landmark, and a seal pup. 

Establishment & History

The town's oldest signs of inhabitation are located by Kópavogslækur brook at the bottom of the bay, estimated at being from the 9th century. By lake Elliðavatn there is a large area of ancient ruins which provides for constant fascination for archaeologists. Although the area has long since been inhabited, the name of Kópavogur is first found in written documents in the year 1523. Today, the ever-expanding town includes the separate districts of Kársnes, Digranes, Smárinn, Fífuhvammur and Vatnsendi. 

Kópavogur was the location for the signing of the documents that established the Icelandic nation under the monarch reign of Denmark in 1662, in an event often called Kópavogsfundurinn or the Kópavogur Assembly. Years later, during the time of Iceland's fight for Independence, the assembly was referred to as an example of Denmark's infringement towards the people of Iceland. 

Environment & Nature 

In the centre of the town lies Kópavogsdalur Valley and through it runs the brook Kópavogslækur, a pretty sight today, but in earlier years used for the disposal of sewage. Between the valley and lake Elliðavatn, the area greatly consists of hills and miniature headlands, such as Leirdalur, Hnoðraholt and Rjúpnahæð. Lake Elliðavatn itself contains all the freshwater fish to be found in Iceland; including trout, brown trout, arctic char, salmon and tiddlers. Kópavogsleira is a residency for 30 local species of birds, as well as 10 migrating bird species. 

Culture & Facilities

Kópavogur hosts one of Reykjavík's two larger shopping malls, Smáralind, built in 2010. Close by is Smáratorg; a popular shopping area, and Smáraturn; the tallest building in Iceland. In the area of Borgarholt, there are various cultural establishments, including a music school, a library, a natural museum and a concert hall. Close to Kópavogur Church, there is the geothermal swimming pool Kópavogslaug. The town includes another swimming pool, four public parks, several cultural museums and numerous sports teams, including Breiðablik and HK. The town paper is called Kópavogspósturinn and has a weekly publication. 

Credit: Wikimedia, Creative Commons. Photo by Axel Kristinsson. 

Elliðavatn is a lake within the greater capital area of Reykjavík in South Iceland. 

Geography and History

The lake was originally two different lakes called Vatnsendavatn and Vatnsvatn. The former belonged to the town of Kópavogur, and the latter to Reykjavík, meaning Elliðavatn rests on the borders of the two. Elliðavatn has a length of about 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) and a depth of approximately 1-2 metres (3-7 feet). 

The lake is fed by the rivers Bugðá and Suðurá, but the lake’s primary outflow is the river Elliðaá. The rivers and lake are popular angling spots for catching Arctic char, salmon and brown trout.

Reaching into the lake is a spit by the name of Þingnes. According to the Icelandic Book of Settlement, Þorsteinn Ingólfsson, who was the son of Iceland’s first permanent settler Ingólfur Arnarson, called a congress there before the 930 AD formation of Alþingi in Þingvellir.