Lakagígar, as seen from the top of Laki volcano: The crater chain formed in the 1783-1784 rift eruption, the world's second largest in recorded history. The chain stretches from Katla volcano, in the south, to Grimsvötn, a subglacial volcano and Iceland's most active, in the north. This view looks southward. The northward view encompasses the western half of the Vatnajökull, the world's third largest ice cap.

Overview: Iceland is a sparsely populated volcanic island that is located astride the mid-Atlantic Ridge, just south of the Arctic Circle. It is the only place where the ridge can be seen at the surface. Several enormous icecaps cover the large highland regions, including the Vatnajökull, the world's third largest icecap. Evidence of volcanism and past glaciation abounds at every turn. Although Iceland's geology is the focus of this trip, participants do not need to be geology students. They don't even need to be students; all are welcome to join us.

Temperatures in July are generally in the 45º-65º F (7-20º C) range. The sun is up 20-22 hours/day in July; it never really gets dark. Our night at Askja will probably be the coldest since it is the highest elevation.

Since Iceland is a large geothermal area, almost all campgrounds provide hot showers. Some of the campgrounds are located at or near excellent hot springs. Hikes are easy to moderate with strenuous options available. The bus is comfortable and comes with an expert Icelandic driver. Although Icelandic is the native language, most Icelanders speak some English--some speak very well. In the past, most participants have enjoyed learning how to pronounce the names of the sites we visit.

We camp every night on these trips and prepare our own meals in a well-equipped field kitchen/dining tent, complete with tables and chairs. You will need to bring your own tent, sleeping bag, and ground pad but all cooking equipment is supplied. Our camp manager will make sure that everyone gets enough to eat. Participants will be divided into kitchen teams so that everyone gets a chance to dazzle the rest with their culinary prowess.

I have led five other groups to Iceland and know the island very well. In the past, Iceland has been very expensive. Their recent economic collapse lowered prices considerably. This year's 24-day trip will cost about the same as the 2007 2-week trip. It may never be cheaper than this summer again.

The 2010 volcanic eruption of Eyjafjallajökull (I'll teach you how to pronounce it!) demonstrated the importance of this volcanic island in the middle of the Atlantic when it closed down airports across Europe. There is always a possibility that we will see an eruption while we are there.

Brevard Students: To participate, enroll in GEOL 271 on the summer course schedule.

Photos From Previous Trips

2007 Iceland Blog with Photos

2010 Iceland Blog with Photos