An azure colored lake provides color in the Iceland highlands.
The Iceland highlands are known for their relatively bright colors. Most of the color is from low growing mosses, contrasting with the black volcanic sands as well as rich, colorful mineral deposits. These colorful highlands were not a destination for us. Rather they were simply something to fly over to get to the next collection of abstract rivers scenes. However, we liked them so much we returned the following day.
Where we Flew that Day
Using the Ghia phone app, I tracked the path of our flight. We took off from the base of that well known peak we have come to love, Hvannadalshnúkur.
You can see a little loop in the above map where we flew around a mountain, once. However, because we only flew around the mountain once, that means the guy on the outside did not get the best view. We declined another fly around to quickly get to the rivers formations of the Iceland highlands. In addition to the photography at hand, I was trying to learn this tracking app that was to be used in the coming weeks, trekking in the badlands of New Mexico. A blog on these badlands will be coming up after we are finished with Iceland highlands.
One of many volcanic cinder cones.
Tree of Life
Note you can click on any of the photos for a larger image, then click the ‘back arrow’ button to return to the normal view.
Greg, who did all of the research of this trip, had seen this section of the highlands and asked the pilot if he knew where it was. He did not seem to know but said he was willing to look for it. You can see a road above the tree like formation. I think the airplane passengers get the best view of this area…
A river seems to spring up out of nowhere below the green section. How is this possible?
Colorful Scenes in the Iceland Highlands
Regardless of the amount of rain and snow water runoff, only the tiniest of plants grow in this volcanic environment of black sand.
You can bet there are no Icelandic cod in this lake…
Below is the Tree of Life from another angle.
From what I could determine, the tiny green plants need more water, so they grow in the little gullies, generally not in the flat lands.
I was always told such green colors are the result of copper deposits.
Signs of Civilization
We saw numerous tour busses and Jeeps below us. While it is doubtful I’ll ever return to this area, a day trip by Jeep would be rewarding. Somehow, I feel I would still be confused about the crazy designs we had seen. Some things are okay to leave as a mystery.
The landscape was so out of this world, I thought it may be good to leave in some very recognizable telephone poles, glowing in the sun.
Colorful Hillsides and Abstract Rivers
Some areas were totally void of the abstract river designs and appear normal, except for the color caused by the glacier water. No apparent reason why.
Colorful hillsides due to mineral rich sands were common in the Iceland highlands.
The sun was rising from the lower right, casting shadows on the hillsides.
Some areas had very well defined tiny branches. However, this area had very soft, blurred lines of flowing rivers. Again, why?
Finally, something very recognizable, a waterfall.
Contrasting Mysteries
Rather than appearing like a flowing river, this looks like some goo dripping from a wall. From this photo, I cannot tell which way the water is flowing.
I’ll end with one of the most confusing photos of all. Again, it is hard to tell the direction in which this river is flowing. And why are there these apparent blunt ends to parts of the river, or are they beginnings? Ah, the mystery continues….
WOW! Great shots.
Great commentary, Harold. The imagery has me in both visual overload and a state of wonder and contemplation. I’ve never seen anything like this.
I kept thinking that it would be great to be backpacking in some of these places, particularly around the lake in your opening photo. I’m sure that from the ground it would be a totally different experience.
Your journey has put this place on my bucket list of places I want to see in my lifetime.
Thanks, Harold.
Really great images again.
“Some areas had very well defined tiny branches. However, this area had very soft, blurred lines of flowing rivers. Again, why?”
Hmmm … depth, velocity, glacial silt load and source and land surface flowing over all most likely have an impact. You will just have to go back for a land tour with a hydrogeologist 🙂