Iceland 1999
This three-week adventure in August was slipped in between a few other trips. It was the result of an invitation to assist in an exploratory archaeology project with the team we spent six summers with in Denmark, this time to look for possible Viking Settlements. We arrived ten days before the project start-up, rented a car and set out to explore Iceland on our own as tourists.

It is hard to believe that such a variety of scenery and landscapes can exist in such a compact area. The theme that kept playing over in our minds was fire and water.

The rich ocean that surrounds this island provides the country with abundant fish and sea birds. This picture is from the beautiful southwest coast.
The volcanoes that formed this island and are still at work today. Lava flows are evident in many places most of them are covered in moss from the abundant rainfall. The Icelanders believe hidden races of wee people populate their country. Just imagine all the gnomes, elves, fairies and dwarves living in this lava flow.
The cascading waterfalls are numerous, but none as spectacular as Gullfoss (Golden Falls).
Water and fire come together at this hot spring where the water is literally boiling out of the ground at 100 degrees Celsius. This hot water from the geothermal activity in Iceland is a core to their economy. It heats their homes, provides electricity, and runs the hot houses which grow large amounts of produce.
We spent many an hour watching birds. This puffin was sitting just above our heads on a rock ledge. They were so much fun to watch as they flew out to sea, then returned with the little fish hanging from their beak.
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Last Revised 1/31/02