Landmannalaugar & Valley of Tears 4x4 Highlands Tour

We will Pick up in Reykjavik and the South coast, drive to the roots of Hekla Iceland,s most active volcano where we drive in the most recent lava field before landing in Landmannalaugar. in Landmannalaugar we stop for three hours it gives plenty of time for a hike, (there are various options available depending on form ) and time to take a dip in the natural pool there before heading back, on the way back we drive on top of a crater with a cobalt blue water inside, stop at a canyon (Most say this is a highlight of the tour ) and a waterfall before driving the countryside back to the capital. The colors of the mountains and the beautiful nature you will see on this day are some you will remember the rest of your life

Fjallabak nature reserve is nemed from the numerous wild and rugged rhyolite mountains with deeply incised valleys in Fjallabak. The topography of the Torfajökull, volcano found in the southern part of the Fjallabak Nature Reserve, a result of the region being the largest rhyolite area in Iceland and the second largest geothermal area, Torfajökul volcano is an active volcanic system, but is now in a declining fumarolic stage as exemplified by numerous fumaroles and hot springs. The hot pools at Landmannalaugar are one of many manifestations of geothermal activity in the area, which also tends to alter the minerals in the rocks, causing the beautiful colour variations from red and yellow to blue and green, a good example being the pink color in Brennisteinsalda and the blue color of Blánhúkur. Geologists believe that the Torfajökull volcano is a caldera, the rim being Háalda, Suđurnámur, Norđur Barmur, Torfajökull, Kaldaklofsfjöll and Ljósártungur. The bedrock of the Fjallabak Nature Reserve dates back 8-10 million years. The volcano has been most productive during the last 2 million years, that is during the last Ice Age Interglacial rhyolite lava and sub-glacial rhyolites, examples being Bláhnúkur and Brennisteinsalda are characteristic formations in the area. To the north of the Torfajökull region sub-glacial volcanic activity produced the hyaloclastite (móberg) mountains, such as Lođmundur and Mógilshöfđar. The most recent volcanic activity,s where at Veiđivötn fissure from 1480, Ljótipollur, Hnausapollur and other craters which extend 30 km, further to the north The average temperature in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve is probably 0-1 °C. Temperatures between 5-14 °C may be expected in July and August, and in the winter the average temperature is about –6 °C. Mountain areas have a tendency to alter the general weather situation, and the Torfajökull Mountains are no exception. The most important local weather variations being; lowering of temperatures, increases in wind speed, local changes in wind direction, production of fog and mist, increased likelihood of rain and snow. As a rough guide, winds from the south to southeast rend to bring rain and bad weather whereas north to northeast winds usually bring cold but finer weather. Always be prepared for sudden and unexpected variations – they are frequent. Because of the cold climate in the Nature Reserve the vegetation’s growing period is only about two moths every year and the formation of soil very slow. The soil is deficient in fully rotted and weathered minerals and is therefore rough and incoherent, furthermore wind and water transport is easily. Sandstorms, common in large parts of the area, as well as volcanic eruptions cover the Nature Reserve with lava and ash. If all these conditions are born in mind, together with the region being heavily grazed through the years it does not come as a surprise that vegetation is scarce in the Nature Reserve. Continuous vegetation cover is rather small and the largest and greenest vegetated areas are close to rivers and lakes in the Kýlingar area which is a continuous fenland with pools and ponds and various marsh plants. The acidic rhyolite bedrock is

Hekla is located in the highly active volcanic zone it is the most active volcano in Iceland with more than 20 eruptions since 874. The volcano is part of a volcanic ridge, 40 km long. The most active part of this ridge is a fissure about 5.5 km long named Heklugja. being under the volcano itself. There are many craters at the peak, two of which are known to erupt more than the others. The area around Hekla was once forested. Forest and some grasses are much more resilient to ash and pumice fall than low vegetation. However the combined effect of human habitation and the volcanic activity has left an unstable surface very susceptible to erosion. Hekluskógar reforestation project is working to restore the previously present birch and willow woodland to the slopes of the mountain. This would stabilize the large areas of volcanic ash and help to reduce erosion. It is the largest reforestation of its type in Europe. Hekla has had at least twenty eruptions since the settlement of Iceland in 874 AD. The biggest eruption was in 1104 AD when it erupted without warning, ejecting millions of tonnes of tephra. It erupted four times in the 20th century 29 March 1947 and ended on 21 April 1948, 5 May 1970 and lasted until 5 July. 17 August 1980 and lasted until 20 August 1980. 17 January 1991 to 11 March 1991, the last time Hekla erupted was 26 February 2000 and lasted until 8 March. Hekla has once produced one of the greatest lava flows of this millenium of any volcano in the world, at eight cubic kilometres. Approximately 10 percent of Iceland’s landmass was brought up by lava from Hekla. Hekla is believed to be overdue and geologists in Iceland keep a close eye on the volcano. There are many monitors placed on the mountain, which measure any geological changes. Last time Hekla volcanoe erupted they could see it beforehand and give people in the area an half-an-hour notice before the eruption started. one of the most notorious things about Hekla is its unpredictability, sometimes exploding within a decade of its last eruption, sometimes laying dormant for nearly a century. Hekla is a word for a short hooded cloak in Icelandic which may relate to the frequent cloud cover on the summit. After the eruption of 1104, stories, probably spread deliberately through Europe by Cistercian monks, told that the mountain was the gateway to Hell. It has also been called the prison of Judas and there is still a legend that witches gather on the volcano for Easter.

Sigöldugljúfur known as they Valley of Tears. It has multiple smaller waterfalls cascading into the canyon.

Gjáin – a hidden oasis of delicate waterfalls and mossy banks

Frostastadavatn – turquoise Lake

Hnausapollur (Bláhlyur)– a large volcanic crater with striking blue water inside

Háifoss – the spectacular tall waterfall

Háifoss – the spectacular tall waterfall