It is located on an island of the same name, which is located on the very edge of Europe and is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Despite its icy name, the country is not Arctic; its climate is softened thanks to the North Atlantic Current closer to the coast, and the Gulf Stream prevents the island from turning into a cold desert with eternal ice.
What are the climate conditions in Iceland?
In general, we can say that the country is subtropical, but in the central part the climate and nature of Iceland are considered continental. The weather on the island can change in a few minutes. It was just warm and the sun was shining, when suddenly it became cold and dank. Even the locals themselves joke about this, they say: “If something doesn’t suit you about our weather, then wait fifteen minutes and it will change.” Arctic drift ice also influences the climate.
Precipitation rates across the country vary as much as temperatures due to different climate zones. For example, the western coast of Iceland accounts for approximately 100 to 1,500 thousand mm, in the northeast the norm can be about 700 mm per year, but in the southern regions of the island (at the heights) precipitation can reach up to four thousand millimeters.
But despite such a changeable climate, the nature of Iceland is famous for its beauty. On its territory you can find places still untouched by man, these are snow-capped mountain peaks or ice fields and coasts with bays. Undoubtedly, tourists discover a lot of interesting and unknown things in the vastness of the island, but in order to ensure that the country does not surprise you with its natural conditions during your trip, it is better to find out in advance what the weather is like for each season.
Weather in winter
Winter lasts only about five hours and is Iceland's darkest time of year. The nature of the entire state is under the dominance of cold strong winds. January is considered the coldest month; the thermometer on the coast can drop to 0 degrees Celsius during the day, and down to -4 at night.
Although the weather is windy and not particularly kind, tourists still flock to the island in the thousands to see the unique natural phenomenon - Aurora Borealis. The season of this northern sowing lasts from October until March, and visitors to the country can enjoy perhaps the most beautiful spectacle that you can see in your entire life.
Not everyone knows that it is the amazing nature of Iceland that is famous for its valley of geysers, which is located in the south of the country. The water temperature in one of these hot springs - in the Blue Lagoon - can reach +37 degrees Celsius. This is where Icelanders themselves and tourists come to warm up in the cold winter.
Weather in spring time
The air temperature in March continues to remain relatively low, approximately +3 degrees Celsius, but the amount of precipitation decreases significantly. In April and May it becomes much warmer and the mercury rises to +7-10 degrees Celsius. Even in winter, ice begins to drift off the coast of the island, and this process continues throughout the entire spring period in Iceland. The nature of the island, despite the still cool temperature, can please tourists.
In April, sea cruises begin that take travelers straight to Greenland itself, to the island of Grimsey. Wildlife lovers can watch humpback whales in Fahsafloui and Hervey bays at this time of year.
In the spring, Icelanders still celebrate many holidays, which are accompanied by folk festivities. At the beginning of March they celebrate beer day, and Lutheran Easter lasts throughout the first spring months. These days it is customary to treat guests to Easter lamb.
Weather in summer
During the summer, temperatures rise and become slightly warmer in Iceland. The nature and climate during this period of the year are most favorable for travel and excursions around the island. Therefore, the season, which lasts from June to September, is considered to be high in this state.
The warmest weather occurs on the island in July, when the air warms up to +17 degrees Celsius during the day and up to +10 at night. Tourists who decide to visit the island's resorts in the summer can see the amazing phenomenon of Iceland. Nature will surprise them with its white nights, which will leave unforgettable impressions and memories.
Lovers of quiet hunting in the summer will be able to enjoy fishing to their fullest, as the Gulf Stream attracts whole schools of various aquatic inhabitants to the sea. In the rivers of the island you can catch salmon, which stay here until the month of September. Undoubtedly, this is also the best period for excursions and for exploring the entire country as a whole.
Weather in autumn
The beginning of autumn is still characterized by relatively warm and windless weather. In October, cyclones begin to pass through the Atlantic Ocean and the weather deteriorates sharply. And in the month of November, daylight hours are already significantly reduced and a dark time begins on the island with long nights. Roads in the central part of the island and in the north of the country may be closed due to impassability, icing and snow blockages. Therefore, if you are planning to travel around Iceland at this time, you need to monitor information about weather conditions in the state.
Resort towns of Iceland
This island is very interesting to tourists for its landscapes and contrasts. The nature and resorts of Iceland simply fascinate travelers with their magical and cold beauty. The most popular are the states and the largest city) and Akureyri (considered the northern capital of the country).
South Iceland can attract its visitors with the popular Vatnajokull glacier, which is the largest in the world. Another attraction of this part of the country is the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.
Lovers of amazing landscapes, devoid of any signs of modern civilization, can take a jeep tour through the highlands of central Iceland, which are practically uninhabited by people.
Museums of the country and interesting facts
The state has many attractions to attract tourists from all over the world. - nature, museums, monuments and much more. For example, in Husavik there is a non-profit organization that was opened in 1997. Various studies were carried out there to learn as much information as possible about whales. And subsequently, thus, a whole museum dedicated to cetaceans appeared.
There is a photography gallery in Reykjavik, with about 5 million different photos. The oldest is considered to be made in 1870. It contains all the interesting facts about the traditions and customs of Iceland.
It is interesting that Icelanders do not have surnames, they are replaced by patronymics - this is the same as the patronymic of the Slavic peoples. If suddenly the father for some reason does not recognize the child, then he receives his patronymic from the mother, that is, the matronym.
Residents of Reykjavik can easily go shopping at the nearest store in pajamas or loungewear, and this will not seem strange to anyone.
Iceland is considered the most sparsely populated country in the world, as approximately 320 thousand people live in it. Compared to the years of World War II, this is even a lot, because at that time the country was inhabited by about 50 thousand. The population of this state is considered the most reading people in the world; they love books very much.
No matter how frightening this cold country is with its inaccessible climate and glaciers, many travelers and adventure lovers strive to visit it at least once in their lives.
Translated from Old Norse, “Iceland” means “ice country.” This is how the island was nicknamed by the first settlers who moved here from the Scandinavian Peninsula in the middle of the 9th century.
But contrary to its name and geographical location, Iceland is located at the very Arctic Circle - it is by no means an Arctic country.
Icelanders are lucky - the shores of their country are washed by the Gulf Stream, which carries warm tropical waters from the Gulf of Mexico to the north.
But there is still eternal ice in Iceland. Ice fields cover the central regions of the island, occupied by a plateau that rises almost two thousand meters above sea level.
There are many who like to drive around this Icelandic off-road. They even created their own club. Christian is one of its members.
Christian:
- We all have four-wheel drive jeeps. We are modernizing them - strengthening the suspension, installing wheels with variable tire pressure. I put a lot of effort and money into mine until I brought it to the required condition.
SUV lovers have their own base. Club chairman Arn showed me a modernized car that could drive through the deepest snowdrifts.
Arn:
- These cars have very large wheels. The air pressure in the chambers is very low. With such wheels, an SUV presses on the snow much less than a person’s legs.
Arn suggested that I see this for myself. It turned out that to do this you need to put your hand under the wheels of the jeep. I really didn't feel any pain.
The glaciers of Iceland, of course, are not only a huge testing ground for various exotic equipment. They feed mountain rivers.
Well, besides, no European country can boast of such an abundance of waterfalls - there are several hundred of them in Iceland.
Iceland has only three sunny days a year. Therefore, only when golden threads of the rainbow appear over the Goldfoss waterfall (Golden Falls) do you begin to understand why it was called that.
The sea and mountains, glaciers and waterfalls - the Icelanders inhabited all this with nature spirits, aesir gods and formidable giants.
Icelanders remained faithful to their ancient gods longer than other Scandinavian peoples. But in the year 1000, the Norwegian king, whose power extended to the island, demanded that they convert to Christianity. Supporters of the old and new faiths could not agree with each other. Then they decided that it would be as the wise law-speaker Thorgeir said.
He retired to a secluded place, where he indulged in reflection for a day. Returning, Thorgeir announced that Iceland should accept the Christian faith. He himself was immediately baptized, and threw the statues of pagan gods into a waterfall on the nearest river.
At the end of the 10th century, pagans symbolically said goodbye to their ancient religion by throwing columns with images of gods into a waterfall. Time and water swallowed up another story, and the waterfall acquired a name - Divine.
Since the 17th century, Lutheranism, one of the varieties of Protestantism, has been established in Iceland. The interior decoration of Protestant churches is characterized by simplicity bordering on asceticism... There are no wall paintings or icons, the veneration of which Protestants consider idolatry...
The only luxury is an organ or harpsichord, to the accompaniment of which the believers sing psalms in chorus during the service.
But the architectural appearance of Icelandic churches is striking in its diversity. There are also modest wooden buildings, as if straight out of a 17th-century painting. And very free modernist fantasies...
Recently, traditional Lutheranism has had a competitor: new paganism - Asatru. Modern Icelandic pagans did not choose the place to perform their rituals by chance.
The town of Thingvellir is the iconic and historical center of Iceland. The first meetings of the Icelandic parliament, the Althing, took place here. This parliament can be considered the first in Europe.
In modern, prosperous Iceland, worshiping ancient pagan deities is more of a hobby. It is unlikely that even among the newly-minted pagans there are those who believe that a volcanic eruption or an earthquake is a punishment sent by angry gods.
And it shakes here often. A tectonic fault runs through Iceland, so it is characterized by high volcanic activity.
In 1996, the Vatnajökull glacier, the largest in Europe, exploded. Liquid magma and boiling water rushed to the sea, carrying with it huge blocks of ice and crushing everything in its path.
The twisted piece of metal protruding picturesquely from the stones is by no means a figment of the imagination of a modern Icelandic sculptor. This is all that remains of the bridge that once connected the banks of the Skivirau River.
Iceland's glaciers are several hundred thousand years old. They are moving - slowly sliding towards the sea. It's warmer here than at the top, so the ice begins to melt.
The dark gray coating on the ice floes is by no means industrial soot. In terms of ecology, Iceland is one of the most prosperous countries in Europe. This shows the volcanic ash that settled on the ice fields during numerous eruptions.
Huge pieces of ice break off from the glacier and form icebergs. They are, of course, far from the giant ice blocks whose homeland is Antarctica or Greenland. But still, they go about thirty meters under the water. Looking at the surface, it’s hard to believe.
Volcanoes cause more than just trouble for Icelanders. The ground here is so hot in many places that you can, for example, bake bread in it. You bury the form with the dough in a shallow hole - and you don’t need to do anything else. In a couple of hours the loaf is ready.
One of the manifestations of volcanic activity is geysers. There are a great many valleys and fields of geysers in Iceland. The word “geyser” itself, by the way, is of Icelandic origin. It is derived from a verb meaning “to gush.”
Today, the most active geyser on the island is Strokkur. At intervals of six to eight minutes, a column of water, steam and sand bursts out of it to a height of twenty meters. Many streams flow from this geyser, the water in the streams smells of sulfur, as does all the water here.
Icelandic geysers are not only a fascinating attraction for tourists. Geothermal springs are the main natural wealth of the country. Eighty-five percent of Icelanders live in houses heated by them. This means that there is no need to burn petroleum products. From which both the treasury and the environment benefit greatly.
This unique heating plant heats the entirety of Reykjavik, a city where almost half of Iceland's population lives. Pipes with free steam and boiling water coming from the bowels of the earth stretch across the hills towards it.
They are sent to special heat exchangers, where they transfer heat to ordinary tap water. This is what goes into homes.
Underground heat is also used for numerous greenhouses and conservatories. The most exotic flowers and fruits are grown here. And this is right next to the Arctic Circle.
Iceland, for example, does not import bananas - its own greenhouses are quite sufficient. Some greenhouses are essentially parks. One of these parks with tropical plants is called “Eden”. Residents of the capital come here to breathe the warm southern air and spend at least a short time among the greenery. After all, you won’t see it everywhere outside the greenhouse, even in summer. There are practically no trees in Iceland.
Forests once covered three quarters of the island, but now they cover barely one hundredth of it. The first Icelandic settlers are to blame for this. When their fields were depleted, they burned down new areas of the forest and sowed barley on them. Gradually, the forests on the island disappeared, and today soil erosion is one of the main problems of the country.
But the lack of forests worries mainly the Icelanders themselves. To the eyes of a visitor, the moss-covered hilly wastelands with the formidable cliffs towering above them are miraculously beautiful.
Iceland does not have much species diversity in its fauna. This was largely due to the isolated position of the island state. The same fact determined the characteristics of the flora. The latter occupies about a quarter of the country's territory. Among the species diversity there are both introduced plants and endemics.
The diversity and growth patterns of plant and animal populations are also influenced by:
- climate;
- relief;
- short daylight hours in winter (about 5 hours).
Flora of Iceland
Due to the fairly cold climate and landscape, which is dominated by high mountain plateaus and lava fields, the leaders of the flora of Iceland are mosses and lichens. They grow everywhere, on rocks, stones and near geysers.
Also found:
- fern plants;
- lycophytes;
- seaweed;
- mushrooms;
- various herbs, etc.
The list of plants also includes flowering herbs: polar poppy, round-leaved bellflower, forest grass, wild lupins, etc. Lupines have become a real disaster for the Icelandic ecosystem. The plant grows very quickly and entire fields of it are no longer uncommon. Wild lupins, in parallel with the growth of their population, are also actively displacing other plants, threatening mosses and lichens with extinction.
Forests are very rare in Iceland. Trees grow on only 1% of the entire country's territory. Most of them are birches, but birches are a little unusual. Strong winds affect them, bending the trunks and forcing them to grow at a greater angle.
Coniferous trees are also found in Iceland. They are not naturally occurring plants. Local residents planted them themselves, in accordance with the decision made by the local administration.
Wildlife of Iceland
During the period of settlement of Iceland by people, the arctic fox was the only animal that lived on these lands. Subsequently, deer were brought to the island. This event occurred at the end of the 18th century. Around the same time, the needs of the local population brought cows, sheep and horses to the lands of the island state. They are bred and kept as domestic animals to this day.
Also, small animals and rodents came to the island from the mainland: minks, rats, mice and foxes.
The bird world of Iceland is distinguished by great species diversity. There are about 80 species in total. On the territory of the country in its different regions you can find: geese, swans, waterfowl, terns, puffins, gulls, etc. Iceland is the only European country where the Barrow and Harlequin ducks are found.
There are two species of whales and seals in the waters off the coast. Iceland also has many species of fish, both river and sea. These are trout and salmon, cod and halibut, haddock and sea bass. Rich in water and seafood, such as shrimp.
There are also insects in Iceland, but it is almost impossible to notice them while walking around the island. Hiding from strong winds, they live in secluded places.
Iceland is a small capitalist state in the north-west. Europe. It occupies the island of Iceland, located in the Atlantic Ocean at a distance of 960 km from Norway, 820 km from Scotland and 260 km from Greenland (Denmark Strait). Coordinates of the extreme points: 63°23` and 66°33` N. latitude, 13°W1` and 24°30`W. d. The area of Iceland is 103 thousand km2. Population 150 thousand people. The capital is Reykjavik.
The total length of Iceland's coastline is approx. 6 thousand km. To the north-west (Northwestern Peninsula), the N. and E. shores are high, fjord (Hunafloui, Eyjafjord, Seydisfjord bays), in the south - low-lying lagoonal; On the 3rd, the large bays of Faxafloui and Bradyfjord jut out (the latter with skerries). Fjords and large bays are formed by faults and the work of Quaternary glaciers.
The surface of Iceland is a plateau 400-600 m high, plunging steeply to the sea shores on almost all sides. Higher plateaus and rows of conical and shield-shaped volcanics rise on the plateau in ledges. mountains with a height of 1200-2000 m. The lowlands (Western, Southwestern and Southern), swampy in many places, occupy only 7% of the entire territory of the country.
Icelandic terrain
Geologically, Iceland is a young country, formed as a result of volcanic eruptions over the past 60 million years (corresponding to the Paleogene, Neogene and Quaternary periods in the history of the Earth). The most ancient parts of the country are located in the west, north and east. These are mainly plateaus composed of ancient basaltic lavas. The plateau-like nature of the surface is best preserved in the north-west, while in the east and north of the central part of the island the relief takes on an alpine appearance. A vast zone extends across the entire country from north to southwest, mainly composed of palagonite tuffs and breccias, which were formed as a result of underwater volcanic eruptions.
A large number of volcanoes are confined to this zone, as well as to the Snæfellsnes region in the west, of which 20 erupted after the settlement of the country. Iceland has almost every type of volcano found on Earth. The most characteristic are chains of craters resulting from eruptions along cracks and faults. In 1783, during the eruption of a volcano of this type, Laki, located southwest of Vatnajökull, the largest lava flow observed on Earth in historical times was formed. It covered an area of 570 square meters. km. To the southwest of Vatnajökull is the Hekla volcano, which erupted in 1947 and 1970. As a result of an underwater eruption off the southwestern coast of Iceland in 1963, the small island of Surtsey emerged. In 1973, during a volcanic eruption on the island of Heimaey, the population of the city of Vestmannaeyjar had to be evacuated.
Hot springs scattered throughout the country (there are more than 250 of them) are closely related to volcanic activity. Fields of sulfur fumaroles (solfatars) are confined to areas of young volcanism. Of the gushing springs, the most famous is the Great Geyser, the name of which has become a household name for all such formations. Iceland widely uses thermal energy. 85% of the population lives in houses heated by their waters. In addition, warm water is supplied to numerous greenhouses and swimming pools.
Iceland's coastline is approx. 5 thousand km. In the northwest, north and east, the rocky shores are dissected by numerous bays, fjords and islands. The inner parts of many fjords are lined with hook-shaped pebble spits, which protect natural harbors from storms blowing from the Atlantic Ocean. Coastal cities and towns are often located on such spits. The southwestern and southern shores of Iceland are sandy and level; There are no natural harbors there.
Ice caps and other glaciers cover an area of 11,900 square meters. km. The largest of the ice caps, Vatnajökull with an area of 8300 square meters. km, located in southeast Iceland. The highest point of the country, Hvannadalshnukur (2119), is also located here, which is the raised edge of the caldera of the Éraivajökull volcano. Other major ice caps are Hofsjökull and Langjökull in the interior of the island, and Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull in the south (covering active volcanoes).
Thanks to the abundance of rainfall, Iceland has many fairly large rivers, but they are not navigable. South of Vatnajökull, the rivers branch into branches that often change their position. This is a serious obstacle to transport. During subglacial volcanic eruptions and when ice dams break on subglacial lakes, huge masses of meltwater cause violent floods on rivers. The largest lakes in Iceland are Thingvallavatn and Thorisvatn.
Geological structure of Iceland
The geological structure of Iceland is determined by volcanic. origin of the island. The most ancient rocks are basalts that erupted in the middle of the Tertiary period. Somewhat later, huge masses of palagonite volcanics formed. breccia. Throughout the Quaternary period, the outpouring of basaltic lavas continued. In places there are layers of clay with the remains of Tertiary plants and numerous petrified tree trunks, indicating the existence of large forests on the island in Tertiary times. Marine Pliocene deposits are known in the north. A large area (6700 km) is occupied by lava (basalt) fields, including the Oudadach Rhein lava desert (3400 km2). In Iceland there are more than 140 volcanoes of various types (crater rows, shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes, mud volcanoes, underwater volcanoes, etc.), of which 26 are active.
Characteristic are rectilinear rows of volcanic rocks. cones and domes associated with large cracks in the earth's crust. The Laki fissure, which opened in 1783 and erupted huge masses of lava, has a length of over 30 km. Most of the volcanoes are located in a wide strip extending from the southwest. in the north-east, in the middle of the country. The largest and most famous volcanoes in Iceland: Hvannadalshnukur (2119 m) on the glaciated Eraiva-Jokull massif in the south-east. islands; Hekla (1447 m), one of the most active volcanoes in the country; Askja (1412 l") with a huge crater to the east. on the outskirts of the lava desert Oudadahröin. Earthquakes are quite common in India. Volcanic eruptions release a lot of loose volcanic material. material. Vulkanich. The ash spreads to the shores of Scotland and Scandinavia, and on the island it covers meadows valuable to Iceland. Especially a lot of ash is released during explosions of subglacial volcanoes, when massive melting of glaciers occurs and mud flows rush to the neighboring plains, carrying huge blocks of ice to the sea. With volcanic Gas outlets, hot springs (sulfur, carbon dioxide, etc.) and mud lakes are also associated with activity. The most famous is the Great Geyser.
Climate in Iceland
The climate of Iceland is cold marine (classification Cfc), according to Alisov it also qualifies as marine subarctic. However, climatic conditions are moderated by the North Atlantic Current, which passes along the southern and western coasts of the island. The weather is influenced by air masses from the Arctic and ocean waters from the tropics and subtropics. The climate of Iceland is also influenced by Arctic drift ice, which often accumulates off the northern and eastern coasts of the island in winter and early spring, bringing lower temperatures and decreased precipitation.
The weather is windy and changeable all year round, there is frequent drizzle and light rain, and snow often falls in winter and spring. Thunderstorms and heavy downpours are rare. Annual precipitation ranges from about 500 mm in Akureyri to more than 1500 mm in the Vestmannaeyjar Islands. Wind speed in Iceland averages 18-20 m/s; in a storm it can exceed 50 m/s. Winter in Iceland is mild for latitudes in the 60s northern, with an average temperature of about 0°C. In summer the average temperature is about +10 °C. In the mountainous inland areas it is much colder at any time of the year. Due to its proximity to the Arctic Circle, nights in summer and days in winter are extremely short on the island.
Soils and flora of Iceland
The soils of Iceland are partly mineral, loess type, partly marshy, enriched with mineral material derived from volcanic ash, and partly aeolian, silty and sandy. Less than 1/4 of the country's territory is covered with vegetation (versus 2/3 when the country was settled 1,100 years ago). The vast interior plateaus are almost entirely devoid of vegetation. The vegetation is dominated by mosses and grasses. Until recently, woody plants occupied only 1% of the area. These are mainly birch trees, which usually have twisted trunks due to strong winds. In recent years, significant coniferous plantations have been created in some places.
Wildlife of Iceland
The species composition of Iceland's fauna is poor. At the time the country was settled, there was only one species of land mammal - the arctic fox. At the end of the 18th century. reindeer were introduced. In addition, mice, rats and mink were accidentally introduced to the island. Breeds in Iceland approx. 80 species of birds. Mountain lakes and rivers are home to many swans, ducks and geese, and on the sea coast gulls, terns, etc. are common. Trout lives in the lakes, and salmon lives in the rivers. Two species of seals and some species of whales are found in coastal waters. Here are feeding and spawning areas for fish (up to 66 species). The most important are cod, sea bass, haddock, halibut and shrimp.
Population of Iceland
The amateur population is 106 thousand people, of which 36% are employed in the village. x-ve, 21% - in fishing, 18% - in industry and crafts, 15% - in trade and transport, 10% - others. The national composition is homogeneous: St. 90% of Icelanders are descendants of Scandinavians who speak Icelandic. The country is also home to Danes, Norwegians, etc. The average population density is approx. 1.5 people per 1 km2. About 60% of the population is concentrated in the southwest. parts of the country.
The settlements are located Ch. arr. along the coast and deep in the fjords. In the central part of the island there are only single “yards” (20-30 people each); the majority live in cities and fishing villages. In the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik, approx. 1/3 of the population of I., other significant points are Aku-reyri, Hafnarfjörður, Siglufjörður, Kuipstadur (Vestmannaeyjar).
I am glad to welcome travel lovers who study landscape design styles on the pages of the Design Museum. Photographers who are passionate about creating unique and original shots love to travel around Iceland.
The country is small in size and has many places that have preserved their natural appearance. The geological structure and climatic conditions created completely different and mystical pictures.
This photo has become a kind of calling card of Iceland. Low mountains overgrown with grass and sharp rocky cliffs sticking out between them, formed by a pile of stones. Two people stand on the peaks and get lost in the vast expanses of northern nature.
There are many streams in the valley, formed by water from the melting glaciers at the top and frequent rainfall. The soil in lowlands is often soft and marshy. Warm air from the Gulf Stream meets cold northern winds. There is often fog over the country and the weather constantly changes.
Such an unusual house can only be seen in Iceland. The humid climate is favorable for mosses, which are able to grow on almost bare surfaces of stones and tree trunks. From year to year, this unpretentious green plant creates its own soil and grows, rising and repeating the contours of the original relief.
The house was built among stones and trees were planted. Gradually, the level of green waves rose, drowning the foundation and trunks. Moss covered the roof and stone walls. Now it looks like the home of fairy-tale elves.
The warm Gulf Stream creates air currents that melt the ice. Under gusts of wind, the ice melts unevenly, in stripes, forming a magical landscape design of the edge of the glaciers. It’s as if a flock of swans spread their wings, and all the birds dived together for the fish, hiding their heads in the water, and the snow-white plumage captivates the audience.
In spring, when the snow melts, the mountain slopes are covered with ocher-colored moss. From the outside, it seems that the slopes have been painted by a painter.
A representative of the animal world, a little fox went hunting. He walks through sparse vegetation growing on rocky soil. A stream of hot lava boiled, burning everything in its path, and now the rocks are porous, like a hard sponge.
When two tectonic layers piled up, mountains were formed. The created vertical stresses manifested themselves in the form of a giant network of cracks arranged in squares when viewed from above. From the side, the exposed stone blocks look like tightly standing pillars. The water washed away the stones, and they broke up into rectangular blocks, ready to lay out smooth walls. With such material you can build a castle and a house in the village.
The waterfall gradually washed its way among the stones, and the melted ice from the peaks will gather in the lowlands, forming lakes and swamps.
Iceland has active volcanoes. You can watch them erupt. Boiling lava is similar to molten metal that steelworkers pour into molds. A stream with a temperature of 1500 degrees and a fireworks display of sparks. Night allows you to more fully admire such a formidable and bewitching spectacle.
Gulf Coast Winter Decor. The tops of the table mountains are covered with snow. A strong cold wind stopped the waves and froze them as they rushed towards the shore. Last year's withered grass is turning red. The ribbons of roads stand out sharply against the background of the lowlands.
In Iceland you can see the northern lights in winter. The photographer leaves the shutter of the camera open for a long time, and the movement of the stars is visible in the sky, as if they were all rushing to the top of a shining mountain. The water reflects the green glow and the brown tone of the slopes. The red mountain hovered between the emerald elements.
Ice covered the coastal rocks and turned them blue. And the rising sun decided to add pink and yellow to the peaks, slopes and clouds that are distant from the lake. The mirror of frozen water reflects all the colors, mixing them together.
The glow transformed a simple building into an extraordinary home. Flashes covered almost the entire sky. The stars shine through them like white dots, and the clouds, trying to extinguish the arch, leave a shadow.
In spring, snow saturates the ground with moisture and colorful plants and flowers appear in the meadows. They paint the ground wherever melt water lingers. The northern slopes are still covered with snow, and in the valley there is a carpet between the stones.
Some volcanoes in Iceland are very active. Still fresh in the minds of many are the events of 2010, when the Eyjafjallajökull eruption blocked airlines over Europe for several days as the sky was obscured by tons of ash.
But this is not the first time that distant Iceland has disrupted the normal life of countries. The first recorded event occurred in 1783, the Laki volcano devastated the lands of several powers and reached Egypt with the help of monsoons. Ash and smoke covered the ground and destroyed the crops, thus causing famine.
The colorful slopes of the mountains are colored by nature itself, which created its own landscape design. During displacement, tectonic layers mixed some of the different soils, then volcanoes filled the slopes with layers of different compositions, and finally, the shift of layers mixed everything with red Silurian rocks.
After this, the rains worked for centuries, washing away the softer soil, they exposed the motley composition of the mountains. The finishing touch was made by the plants, adding their own tones to the palette.
The double arch of a rainbow hung across the bay like a giant bridge. There is a mountain in the center of the arc. Orange and red plants covered the slopes and valley with a thick carpet. The streams reached the shore and rushed down in small waterfalls. Spring has become a full-fledged mistress on the coast of Iceland.
Landscape design made of stone and turbulent stream of water. The high-mountain lake broke through and rushed down an uncontrollable and winding stream through a narrow trench in the granite. The rays of the sun painted the running elements with gold, and the photographer managed to capture this miracle created by the elements.
The coast is indented by fjords. Red moss is waiting for warmer weather and rains to bloom. The presence of a person in these parts is revealed only by a white house with a gable red roof. The water is calm, but cold and leaden. The fog clung to the tops of the mountains.
Warm air currents melt the ice and, like a sculptor, create all sorts of configurations. This through-hole cave continually thaws and then freezes, creating a particularly smooth and slippery surface.
A small village at the foot of the mountains. Above, bare stones hid their tops in the fog. Below everything is covered with short grass. There are practically no green spaces, only a group of trees is visible between the houses. There are cheerful yellow flowers along the road. Against the background of rocks, buildings with red roofs seem like toys.
In winter, the mountains are not so bright, but the snow and red-black stones create a special charm, as if light spots were artificially applied.
The next sculptures created by the warm wind from ice blocks. In some figures you can even recognize a cat and a penguin. It all depends on your imagination. The water reflects the sky and has a mixture of gray clouds and ultramarine in the gaps between them.
Birds have chosen the ledges of the mountain to create nests. The sea rolls its waves in front of them, and no one will approach unnoticed. And it is impossible for wingless creatures to overcome steep slopes. A narrow strip of beach looks like a stone path and separates the gray sea and the green land with grass and bushes.
A blue lake in the crater of an extinct volcano and many bodies of water up to the horizon. Glaciers melt and fill every depression with water. And on the southern slopes yellow moss is already blooming.
The field is strewn with shards of ice, which are translucent like glass and reflect the sun-gilded sky and clouds.
On the inaccessible steep slopes there is a kingdom of birds. They live comfortably on a rock, in which there are many caves of different sizes and ledges.
In the ice grotto, a man lit a fire and the flames, reflecting from the mirror surface, created mystical pictures.
The moss covered the stones in a thick and dense layer and they became soft, like a feather bed. You can even sleep on such boulders.
Landscape design of a waterfall and clouds in the rays of the rising sun. Gray and pink sky and golden and orange water. The brown walls of the cave play with red highlights.
This is what it looks like after about a couple of hours. Blue sky with white stripes. Green grass and people in cars came to cultivate the fertile lands.
Artists painted wind and frost patterns on the ground, as if it were a large window. The magical white forest stretched its branches to the very horizon.
No one can choose colors better than nature itself; a person just has to find a good place and take a photo at the right time. Dark blue water and sky. Bright green oval stones covered with moss, and along the horizon the setting sun painted everything in red and yellow tones.
Clouds of fog covered the ground. Only the tops of the rocks have pierced it and are turning black. The sun breaks through a narrow gap in the clouds and tries to brighten the gloomy landscape by adding a pink tint to it.
Against the backdrop of huge mountains, the building with the tower looks unreal. Summer decor of the gorge, green and menacing.
