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Wikimedia, Creative Commons, Photo Credit: ThinkGeoEnergy Hellisheiði is a lava plateau east of Reykavík, approximately 380 metres (1,247 feet) high. Iceland's main highway, Route 1 passes through it, leading east. The latest and most distinctive lava field here is Kristnitökuhraun, formed in the year 1000. Geothermal Activity at Hellisheiði The area is has a high amount of geothermal activity, as can be seen in nearby hot springs. The best example, however, can be f

Photo above from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Chensiyuan Hellissandur is a village dating back to the 16th Century, found on the northwesternmost point of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in west Iceland. Like many other places on Snæfellsnes, Hellissandur was once a centre of fishing and trade; now, it is a centre of tourism. The village boasts a maritime museum, as well as several houses built in the turf-style that Icelanders lived in for centuries. Hellissandur is located directly

Hellnar is an old fishing village on the westernmost part of the Snaefellsnes peninsula. It used to be one of the largest fishing stations of the peninsula, with the oldest written record of seafaring there from 1560. History of Hellnar Historically, the settlement was a hub of activity, with many trading and fishing vessels pulling in and out of the harbour daily. There were many farms around the area, and by 1703, 38 houses. Though by modern international standards this was nothing,

Photo by Regína Hrönn Ragnarsdóttir. Hengifoss is a waterfall that runs from the river Hengifossá in the municipality of Fljótsdalshreppur in East Iceland. At 128 metres (420 feet) it is the third tallest waterfall in the country.  The trail leading up to the waterfall is one of the most popular hiking routes in all of East Iceland, but visitors can reach the falls from the nearby parking lot by hiking for approximately 50 minutes.  Geography 

Hengill is an enormous mountain in south-west Iceland, covering an area of about 100 square kilometres. It is a vital source of energy for south Iceland Energy at Hengill Hengill is an active volcano, although there has not been an eruption here for about 2,000 years. In spite of that, there is still lava close to the surface, evidenced by the steaming fumaroles and many hot springs dotted across it. Iceland’s electricity and heated water comes from entirely renewable sources, taken f

Hengladalsa is a river in Southwest Iceland.  The river has its source by the Hengill area, from valleys Innstidalur, Middalur and Fremstidalur, collectively called the Hengladalir, and it falls into Olfus in Reykjadalsa river.

  Herdubreid is a table mountain (Icelandic: 'stapi'), situated north of Vatnajokull in the deserted lava field of Odadahraun, the most extensive lava field in Iceland. This impressive mountain, 1682 m high, is often called 'the queen of Icelandic mountains' and was voted the Icelandic 'national mountain' in a 2002 poll.

Herdubreidarlindir is an oasis situated near Herdubreid mountain north of Vatnajokull glacier. The area features a campground and hiking trails and is popular with travellers. More than 72 vascular plant species may be found there. Herdubreid also has rich birdlife which includes pink footed geese, harlequin ducks, Arctic terns, swans and red-necked phalaropes.  Outlaws would seek refuge in this area in former times, the best known being Fjalla-Eyvindur. 

Hestfjörður (translated to “Horse Fjord”) is a fjord in Westfjords, near Vatnsdalur valley, Bolaskógur forest and Hattardalsfjall mountain. The fjord is 15km long and, at its broadest point, 1km wide. Like the neighbouring fjord Skötufjörður, countless waterfalls cascade down the region’s mountainsides, making for a beautiful, if rarely seen part of the Westfjords.  History Hestfjörður has an important place in modern Icelandic

The Icelandic Highlands cover the majority of the country and many of Iceland’s impressive natural attractions can be found here. Away from crowds, noise and bustle, the Highlands offer silence, serenity, peace and extreme natural beauty. A favourite amongst hikers and photographers, the Highlands are accessible from June to September. The Central Highlands The Central Highlands cover a vast area, at an altitude of over 500 metres (1640 feet), with numerous mountains reaching he

Hitardalur is an ancient manor estate and vicarage in the valley of the same name in West Iceland, close to Borgarnes. History Hitardalur is widely mentoned in old records. One of the the most destructive fires in Icelandic history ocurred in Hitardalur in 1148, claiming the lives of the bishop of Skalholt and 70-80 people who had gathered there for a feast. Eighteen years later a monastery is said to have been founded there, lasting until  1201, though any further records of it are sca

Wikimedia, Creative Commons, Photo Credit: Bromr Hjálparfoss is a waterfall (or, officially, a pair of waterfalls that conjoin) in south Iceland. Description of Hjlálparfoss Hjlálparfoss is an incredibly serene feature, marking where the rivers Fossá and Þjórsá meet. Both of these are renowned as some of Iceland’s best and easily accessible fishing rivers, while Þjórsá also takes the title of being the country’s l

Hjalteyri is a community of around 40 people, located on the western shores of Eyjafjordur in North Iceland. Until the early 20th century it was one of the centers for the herring industry in Iceland. History & economy Norwegians started salting herring in the area around 1880 and the village became was confirmed by law as a trading post in 1897. Swedes, Scots and Germans would fish there  in the following years but all foreigners had left by 1914. The Icelandic fishing company Kve

Credit: Wikimedia, Creative Commons. Photo by, Axel Krisinsson.  Hjörleifshöfði is a 221 m (725 ft) high mountain in South Iceland, located on the Mýrdalssandur sand plain, 15 km (9.3 mi) east of the village Vík í Mýrdal. Like most mountains in Iceland, Hjörleifshöfði is volcanic but was submerged in seawater during the time of its formation. Originally, therefore, the mountain was an island, but by the time of Iceland's settleme

Hlemmur is a  long-time fixture of Reykjavík’s capital region, serving for the past century as a central transportation hub. Hlemmur now houses a colourful bazaar of world cuisine, nestled among museums, galleries, and shops.   Hlemmur (Icelandic for “pot lid”) traces its name to a small bridge that crossed the nearby creek, Rauðarárlækur. At the turn of the twentieth century, a cistern was constructed, transforming Hlemmur into an indispens

Hljómskálagarðurinn is a park in Reykjavík’s downtown area, renowned for its birdlife, sculptures, and serenity. Located beside Tjörnin pond, many freshwater bird species frequent the area, such as duck and geese, as well as other species such as Arctic Terns. The sculptures on site were all produced by women, five of whom were Icelandic, and one of whom was Danish. The park is a popular site to unwind after a day of shopping, particularly in summer, and c

Hljodaklettar (‘Echo Rocks’) is a distinctive cluster of columnar rock formations, located by Jokulsargljufur in Vatnajokull National Park. Hljóðaklettar stand at the entrance to Vesturdalur, down by the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum. The columns lie at all angles and derive their name from the strange echoes created by the numerous caves and uncommon rock formations.

Hnappavellir is Iceland's most popular climbing area, as well as its largest. These are vertical cliffs situated near Skaftafell in Vatnajokull National Park. The cliffs once rose from the sea but now tower over grassy meadows. At Hnappavellir you'll have over a hundred routes to choose from. For the avid climber, this is an essentinal place to visit.

  Hnifsdalur is  a small village of around 250 people in a valley of the same name and is positioned between Bolungarvik and Isafjordur. The mouth of the valley is marked by the mountains Budarhyrna and Bakkahyrna, each named after a farm near its roots. The river Hnifsdalsa runs through the valley. Between Hnifsdalur and Isafjordur lies the mountain Eyrarfjall. There have been avalanches in this area, a large one occured there in 1910 resulting in a great loss of life.

Photo by Emmanuel Milou Höfn is an Icelandic fishing town of just over two thousand people in south-east Iceland. It is the most significant settlement on Route 1 between the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur in the south and Egilsstaðir in the east. Geography of Höfn Höfn means ‘harbour’, as the town is located in one of the few natural harbours of Iceland’s South Coast; unlike the rest of the country, this stretch is beachy and flat, thus there are ha

Hofsjokull is the third largest glacier in Iceland and is situated in the Mid-Higlands. Hofsjokull has an active subglacial caldera volcano which is the largest active one in the country. The glacier is the source of several rivers, including Thjorsa, which is Iceland’s largest river.

 Photo from 3 great reasons for visiting beautiful Hofsós.  Located in the north-west, Hofsós is one of the oldest trading posts in Iceland, dating back to the 1500s. Today, it is a sleepy fishing village, though tourism is now on the rise thanks to the recent addition of a designer swimming pool. History In the 16th century, Hofsós seemed destined to develop into a large and prosperous town. It was built centre-north of the country, there was easy access f

Wikimedia, Creative Commons, photo by Laurentgauthier Höfði is a building in Iceland’s capital, most famous for being the meeting point of then-presidents Ronald Reagan of the United States and Mikhail Gorbachev of the Soviet Union. Höfði House’s Location Höfði House is located on Sӕbraut, the road in Reykjavík that runs adjacent to the coastline; it thus looks out over Faxaflói Bay and Mount Esjan. Though several kilometres away from the

Holar in Hjaltadalur valley, in the east of Skagafjordur is an ancient bishop seat and an important historical site. It currently has a female ordaining bishop.  As well as being the is the site of historical buildings and excavations, Holar features an agricultural university, a turf house built in 1934 that is rented out for lodgings and a center for the history of the Icelandic horse. Holar was the last stronghold for Catholicism, led by bishop Jon Arason, against the advent of Lutheri

  Holaskogur is an deforested area (despite the name, 'skogur'='forrest') in Gjupverjaafrettur in the mid highlands of Iceland.  Holaskogur has excellent modern accomodations and is thus popular with travelers. When farmers would gather their sheep from the mountains in the autumn, they'd stay in huts on their way and the oldest of these is found at Holaskogur, rebuilt in 1994.

In the desolate, dramatic, and awe-inspiring Strandir region of the Westfjords, the village of Hólmavík is the largest settlement. About 375 people (as of 2011) live there, and it serves as a centre of commerce for the area. In spite of its small population, it has a fascinating history; it is notorious in Iceland for its link to witchcraft and witch-hunts, and as such, it is home to the Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft. Magic in Icelandic history folklore is a constant

Hólmsheiði is a prison just outside of Reykjavík, known for its long-term rehabilitation facilities for women, as well as its reputation for luxury. Modelled off Norwegian luxury prisons, which seek to isolate but not torture its criminals, Hólmsheiði is both venerated and condemned, depending on who you speak to, for how it treats its inmates. The prison covers 9 acres and has 56 cells.

Holuhraun is an immense lava field north of Vatnajökull glacier in Iceland's Highlands. The most recent major eruption in Iceland occured here, beginning on  29 August 2014 and ending on 27 February 2015. This eruption created a vast lava field of more than 85 km² (33 mi²), the largest to be produced in the country since the year 1783. Recent Eruptions at Holuhraun Holuhraun is in a highly volcanic area, sitting above both the Barðarbunga and Askja volcano syste

Lake Hop is a tidal lake in North Iceland. It is the fifth largest lake in the country and popular for fishing. The lake is situated around 35 km from Blonduos, on the borders of Western and Eastern Hunavatnassysla. Depending on tide, the size of the lake may vary from 29 to 44 km2. Plenty of brown and char can be found in the lake as well as salmon, sea trout and sea char. The size of the sea trouts and sea chars may reach 6 pounds. Also note that the rivers Gjufura and Vididalsa, which

Hopsnes (a.k.a. Thorkotlustadanes) is a small peninsula in Grindavik in Southwest Iceland. Many ships have stranded at Hopsnes and can be seen from the road. Various other remnants bear witness to the life of seafarers of farmers. Hopsnes has a lighthouse with a view of Eldey island on clear days. It is a nice place to take a walk and breathe in the sea and Icelandic history.

Hornafjörður (“Fjord of Horns”) is a fjord, municipality and growing community found in southeast Iceland. The fjord takes its name from the curved shapes of the sand reefs that have formed just off the coastline. Hornafjörður is one of the larger municipalities found in Iceland, covering a total area of 260 km, all for a population of little over 2,200. The southern end of Vatnajokull National Park falls under Hornafjörður’s jurisdiction.  

Hornstrandir is a nature reserve located in the Westfjords, in the north-west of Iceland. The total area covers 580 square kilometres (220 square miles) of tundra, cliffs, flowering fields and ice. The glacier Drangajökull sits to the region’s southern area. The nature reserve was established in 1975. Its borders encompass the picturesque fjords Hrafnfjörður and Furufjörður, finishing at Skorarheiði moor. History Given the nature reserve’s isolated l

Hrafnabjargafoss is a waterfall in the river Skjálfandafljót northwest of Vatnajökull glacier. Skjálfandafljót falls into several highly impressive canyons and other notable waterfalls in the river are Aldeyjarfoss, Goðafoss and Barnafoss, all renowned for their magnificent beauty.

  Hrafnagja is a 7.7 meter long canyon, 68 meters at its widest, located at Thingvellir National Park in South Iceland. The Hrafnagja canyon marks the western boundary of the Eurasian plate. Its equivalent to the east is the famous Almannagja canyon, which also was the site of the old parliament, Althingi, founded in 930 and now located in Reykjavik.

Credit: Wikimedia, Creative Commons. Photo by TommyBee Hrafnseyri is an old town in the Westfjords that dates back to the Settlement Era and has links to Iceland’s independence movement. The settlement is named after one of its earliest residents, Hrafn Sveinbjarnason, who lived here in the 12th Century. He is not the area’s most famous child, however; it was also the birthplace of Jón Sigurðsson, the father of Iceland’s push for independence from Denmark. Althoug

Hraunfossar ('Lava Falls' in English) in Borgarfjörður district is a series of beautiful waterfalls formed by rivulets streaming out of the Hallmundarhraun lava field. It is located in West Iceland near another waterfall called Barnafoss. Geography and Surroundings of Hraunfossar The lava field that Hraunfossar trickles through flowed from an eruption of one of the volcanoes lying under the nearby glacier of Langjökull, the second largest ice-cap in Iceland. The waterfa

Hreppholar is a series of regular basalt columns located at Hrunaheidi heath in South Iceland. These towering pillars are located at the Hrunaheidi heath in Arnessysla county. Despite some mining in the area they still remain an impressive sight when traveling through the heath.

  In Eyjafordur in North Iceland there lies an island of around 200 people, called Hrisey, widely hailed as 'The Pearl of Eyjafjordur'. The beauty and tranquility of Hrisey, along with its interesting history and culture, the hospitality of the locals, rich birdlife and a fantastic view of the fjord and its mountains have made the island an essential stop for travelers. History & Culture Hrisey has been inhabited since the age of settlement and is mentioned as early as in Lan

Hrolleifsborg is a mountain in the Westfjords, in one of the most remote parts of Iceland. At 776 metres (2545 ft) tall, it is one of the highest peaks in the region. It is an excellent spot for hiking but requires guests to travel far from many of the other main attractions in the Westfjords, such as Dynjandi and Látrabjarg. It is rather close to some lesser-known sites, however, such as the Hornstranðir Nature Reserve and glacier Drangajökull. The closest settlements to Hroll

Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by genevieverossier  Hrossaborg, in northeast Iceland, is a tephra and scoria crater. Its name means ‘Horse Castle’, as it was once used as a natural shelter for the steeds of travellers. Originally, Hrossaborg was almost perfectly circular, 500 metres (1640 ft) in diameter all the way around. Due to floods, however, it has since been distorted, with an opening in its eastern wall. Hrossaborg is located a short way off of Route 1, but a

Hrútafjörður is a fjord in north-west Iceland that stretches out of Húnaflói bay. The name of the fjord translates to Ram’s Fjord.  Geography Hrútafjörður is a very deep and lush fjord, reaching approximately 36 km (22 miles) inland. At the sea bottom, a long stretch of sand begins that trails north along the eastern part of the Icelandic Westfjords. The region of Strandir is named after said sand stretch, and that region’s south

Húnaflói is a bay in north Iceland. Many beautiful fishing villages and fascinating sites sit on its shores.  The most iconic feature of Húnaflói is the bizarrely shaped rock formation Hvítserkur, which rises from the surface of the sea and resembles an elephant drinking. It is far from the only important site, however. The popular tourist stop of Blönduós also faces out to the bay as does Siglufjörður, home of the award-winning Her

Húsafell is a large farm and church site in the Borgarfjörður district of West Iceland. With incredible natural beauty, it has been a popular resting spot for travellers since the earliest days of the country. History of Húsafell Húsafell is quite inland for an Icelandic settlement, made possible due to the fertile lands and relative lack of eruptions in the area. In spite of its distance from the coast, fishing has always been popular due to the trout lakes and

Photo Credit: Husavik Traditional Whale Watching Húsavík, in Skjálfandi Bay in North Iceland, is a town of just over two thousand people. It is renowned for having some of best the whale watching in Europe throughout the summer. Whale Watching in Húsavík Húsavík is often nicknamed the whale watching capital of Europe, due to the fact that throughout the vast majority of summers, tour operators have 100 percent sighting rates. Humpback Whales a

Wikimedia, Creative Commons, Photo Credit: Axel Kristinsson Hválfjörður is a fjord in southwest Iceland. The fjord is approximately 30 kilometres (19 miles) long and five (three miles) kilometres wide. Nature and Landscape The landscape of Hválfjörður is varied and beautiful, with wide areas of flat land along majestic mountains, green vegetation in summer and beaches cut with by creeks. The area is rich in birdlife and is home to seals, but des

  Hvalneskirkja is a beautiful stone church in Hvalnes on the Reykjanes peninsula, built in the years 1886-87. The church's altarpiece is a remake of the one at Domkirkjan, Iceland's main Lutherian church, and painted in 1886. One of the Hvaleyrarkirkja's main relics is the tombstone of Steinunn Hallgrimsdottir (d. 1649), daughter of the major hymn poet and priest Hallgrimur Petursson (wherefrom Hallgrimskirkja in Reykjavik derives its name). Hallgrimur himself served in Hval

Hvammstangi is a village on the Vatnsnes Peninsula, six kilometres north of the Ring Road. Nestled beside the Miðfjörður fjord, Hvammstangi is the most densely populated area in West Húnaþing County, with roughly 600 inhabitants. History Historically, Hvammstangi was an important trading centre, dating back to 1856. The Trade Museum Bardúsa, located in the central town, tells this story, offering visitors an insight into both the small town’s develop

Wikimedia, Creative Commons, Photo Credit: Matias Ärje Hvannadalshnúkur, or Hvannadalshnjúkur, is the highest peak of Öræfajökull volcanic glacier in Vatnajökull National Park and the tallest mountain in Iceland. Its latest measurement finds it to be 2,109.6 meters (6952 feet) tall. Due to the fact Iceland is located over a rift valley, where the tectonic plates are pulling apart rather that crushing together, most mountains do not reach over a thou

Hvannalindir is a vegetated area within Vatnajökull National Park in the Highlands of Iceland.  While the Icelandic Highlands mostly consist of barren wastelands, Hvannalindir is a lush oasis, nesting between Kreppyhryggur Ridge to the east and Lindafjöll mountains to the west.  Geology  The reason for Hvannalindir’s greenery is that the area is fed by spring water from Lindá River that emerges from beneath the lava field of Lindahraun. The eruption of th

Hvanneyri is a small agriculture and church centre in the west of Iceland and can be visited 80 km north of Reykjavik in the municipality of Borgarbyggð. The settlement, known for its history of farming, is surrounded by luscious green meadows and walkable hills. History What is now the municipality of Borgarbyggð was once an important landing zone for Iceland’s earliest settlers, who followed the rivers inland on their conquest for a new home. By setting up farmsteads along the

  Hvannfell is a mountain in Sudur-Thingeyjarsysla county in North Iceland. The mountain is located near the famous Lake Myvatn. The Burfellshraun lava field lies between Hvannfell and mountain Burfell, with colourful and mixed lava.

Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by ezioman Hveradalir, ‘the Valley of the Hot Springs’, is exactly what its name suggests. It can be found in the country's interior, on the Kjölur Highland Road. One of the largest geothermal areas in the country, there are hot springs you can bathe in, and many more that can be admired from a safe distance. The site is surrounded by the rhyolite mountains of the Kerlingarfjöll range, making for some spectacular and colourful

Hveragerði is a town and municipality in the southwest of Iceland. It is often nicknamed ‘the Earthquake Town’ or ‘the Hot Spring Town’, due to the active geological and geothermal forces that define it. Hveragerði town and services Hveragerði is around 45 kilometres (28 miles) from the capital Reykjavík, and takes half an hour to drive to along the Ring Road travelling south. Around 2,300 people live in Hveragerði, most employed in tourism, hor

  Hveravellir is a geothermal area and nature reserve in the Icelandic highlands, between the glaciers Hofsjokull and Langjokull. The area features colourful sinters and smoking fumaroles, hot springs and a geothermal hot pool. Hveravellir is renowned for its beauty and is a popular stop when traveling through the highland road of Kjolur.  

Hverfell is an explosion crater on the east side of Lake Mývatn in northern Iceland and is one of the largest explosion craters in the world. The diameter of the crater is 1000 metres and it is around 140 metres deep. It was formed in a volcanic explosion some 2800-2900 years ago. Hverfell is also known as Hverfjall, both spellings are correct.

Credit: Wikimedia, Creative Commons. Photo by Tong Hverfjall is a tuff ring volcano with an incredibly impressive crater, approximately one kilometre in diameter. Created about 2,500 years ago, Hverfjall is connected to the very active Krafla volcanic system, which has been the cause of 29 eruptions since settlement. The Krafla system is near the Lake Mývatn area, one of the most popular and diverse sites in Iceland. Two walking paths head up to the crater, where you can admire it

Hvíta is a glacier river in Arnessysla in South Iceland. It is one of the most popular rivers in Iceland for rafting, salmon fishing, and it is home to Iceland's most famous waterfall. Gullfoss Waterfall The river has its source in Hvítarvatn, by the roots of Langjökull. Many tributaries join it as it travels towards the ocean, making Gullfoss waterfall, which lays on its course, mightily powerful. At 32 metres (105 feet) tall, it falls in two steps into a magnificent

Hvitarvatn is a glacier lake in the Icelandic highlands, feeding the glacier river Hvita in South Iceland. The lake lies where the highland road Kjalvegur starts from the south and is located around 45 km from famous Gullfoss waterfall. The lake lies close to Iceland’s second-largest glacier, Langjokull, and indeed an outlet of the glacier, Nordurjokull, reaches the lake, lending it its distinctly light glacial colour. The outlet Sudurjokull used to reach into the lake as well, but has re

Hvítserkur, otherwise known as the Troll of Northwest Iceland, is a 15 m (49 ft) tall basalt rock stack protruding from Húnaflói Bay. The rock is a nesting ground for seagulls, shag and fulmar, making it appear constantly in motion, further enforcing the idea that Hvítserkur is, in some way, very much alive. Hvítserkur is best viewed along the eastern shore of Vatnsnes Peninsula and takes its name from the birdlife that nests on top of it. In Icelandic,

Hvolsvöllur is a small town of 950 people in south Iceland, conveniently located by the Ring Road. It is often travelled through or stopped off in by those exploring the South Coast or encircling the country. It is very popular as a place to stay in a cabin or bungalow for those who want to be close to the sites of the west and south, such as the Golden Circle, but away from the hustle and bustle of Reykjavík. Economy and transport Hvolsvöllur’s main economy is servic