Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest
If the idea of a visit to Iceland leaves you cold, you just havent been properly introduced. With an immense icecap, several glaciers, raging rivers, glorious waterfalls, and spouting geysers, this tiny Atlantic island (just 40,000 square miles C about the size of Ohio) offers many nature-made delights. Add frolicking whales just offshore and the largest known bird cliff in the world and those passionate about the outdoors might just want to stay forever. The Gulf Stream gives Iceland a mild temperate climate C not the frigid freeze that most people envision. Temperatures average 35 degrees in January, 42 degrees in April, 56 degrees in July, and 44 degrees in October.
For the Birds
Iceland is a paradise for bird lovers. An amazing variety of cliff-nesting species can be found on Latrabjarg, a 27-mile long, sheer cliff on the northern coastline of Breidafjordur. Puffins are in abundance on the Westmann Islands, along with many other kinds of seabirds. A boat tour in the waters surrounding these islands will usually include whale, dolphin and orca sightings, too. For ducks lovers, Lake Myvatn, is the largest breeding spot for ducks in Europe. The grassy shoals of this region, which includes bubbling mud flats, fresh lava fields, and moon-like volcanic craters, are bursting with waterfowl.
Dolphin and Whale Watching
Dolphins, and a variety of whales (killer, blue, humpback, minke) can be spotted throughout the waters surrounding Iceland. One of the most popular spots, Husavik (considered the whale watching capital of Europe) is a small fishing village on the eastern shore of Skjalfandi Bay. In addition to whale watching tours, the Husavik Whale Center offers in-depth information on whale species and biological makeup. Tours also can be taken from Hafnarfjordor (near Reykjavik), the Westmann Islands (in the south), Breiddalsvik (in the east), and Olafsvik (in the west).
Glacier Tours
If you are coming to Iceland, you want to see ice, right? There are plenty of tour companies offering a variety of ways to see glaciers: jeeps, snow mobiles, 4-wheel drive vehicles, trekking, and comfortable coaches for the slightly less adventurous. Due to the risk of hidden crevices in glaciers, it is best to explore the glaciers on an organized tour with an experienced guide.
City Life
Want to come in from the cold? Visit the capitol city of Reykjavik, a place where refined sophistication fuses with rural roots. Reykjavik, which means Steamy Bar gets its name from the geothermal steam that, to this day, heats living spaces and outdoor swimming pools through the city. Although you cant get too far away from nature here (after all, a salmon stream snakes through the city and well-manicured parks are everywhere), Reykjavik provides plenty of the more typical city offerings, such as art museums, theaters, a symphony orchestra, an opera house, fine dining, and plenty of shopping.
Adjacent to Reykjavik is the town of Kopavogur. Located in the southeastern shore of Faxafloi Bay, this mostly residential area offers sports and leisure facilities, a concert hall, and an art museum. Further south, the town of Hafnarfjordur (situated in a lava field) offers visitors a number of fun activities, including whale watching, fishing, bicycling, Viking feasts, horseback riding and even elf-spotting tours.
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