On a recent school trip to Iceland, we had the opportunity to see first hand a unique display of some amazing geographical features. Our first visit was to the largest geothermal power station in Iceland. Here, we discovered that over 80% of housing in Iceland is powered by volcanic hotspots.
We then ventured outdoors where we were treated to two waterfalls, measuring 60m in height. Thank goodness we had our raincoats!
As well as this, we saw the ‘sun house glacier’ which is sadly retreating at least 100m per year. The following day, we saw even more geological landforms, including a naturally formed arch, cliffs and some caves that were situated on the magnificent Black Volcanic Beach. It was at this beach that we witnessed the sheer power of Icelandic waves, it was awe inspiring.
A visit to the Iceland Volcano Centre and lava tunnels gave us a fantastic opportunity to see the inner workings of a volcanic eruption, naturally sculpted lava falls and the incredible rock formations.
We then enjoyed a morning in the secret lagoon which is fed by the naturally occurring hot springs keeping the water around 38-40 Celsius all year round. The day continued with more wonderful sites, such as Gullfoss Waterfall, Geysir, and Thingvellir National Park, all of which are a part of the Golden Circle. Specifically, the spouting hot springs which reached around 10-20 metres high. An incredible feature of Iceland’s geothermal activity.
To round up our trip, we went to Reykjavík, the most northern capital city in the world where we were able to explore and visit the distinct church, the Hallgrimskirkja. Overall, it was a great trip which introduced us to new natural wonders and new experiences.
Written by Kate – Year 12
