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This is the first time that the Society
has offered a student-only trip. We will visit many must-see localities
in one of the most must-see places on Earth. For many it will be the first
international experience as a geologist. Iceland will provide a magnificent
gateway to the geology of the world.
Trip Leader: Jim Reynolds, Brevard
College, Brevard, NC 28712; reynoljh@brevard.edu
List of Participants: Participants' List See the POSTER we presented at the SEGSA/SCGSA in Memphis (3/14/03) Travel Arrangements: Toni Rottenberg, TRCAFRICA@aol.com For More Details: Contact Edna Collis, ecollis@geosociety.org (Phone 1-800-472-1988 ext. 1034).Volcano Tours, a division of TR Consultants, Inc There will undoubtedly be frequent updates to the itinerary as the departure date draws near. Check back here often! --As departure time draws near, I want to be sure that everyone brings the following items which were not on the mailed list but should be pretty obvious: 1) tent (or tentmate), 2) sleeping bag, 3) sleeping pad, 4) flashlight. You should also bring to tip the driver at the end of the trip. 6/18--So far, so good. No significant changes have taken place. Please send me your email address and school name if they do not already appear on the Participants' List. |
Itinerary
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| August 1
Day #1 |
Baltimore | Keflavík, Iceland | Overnight flight on Iceland Air. |
| August 2
Day #2 |
Reykjavík | Reykjavík | Bus from Keflavík airport to Reykjavík municipal campground. Purchase additional food and supplies, swimming at the municipal pool, shopping. |
| August 3
Day #3 |
Reykjavík | Hveravellir | Visit Þingvellir, the site of the world's first Parliament, which is right on the rift. Then, on to Gullfoss and Strokkur geyser. We'll camp at the Hveravellir geothermal area, enjoying the hot springs with views of the ice sheets on nearby mountains. |
| August 4
Day #4 |
Hveravellir | Reykjahlið | This will be our longest drive (300 km). We'll cross part of the Central Iceland Desert with views of several ice caps and numerous volcanic and glacial features. We'll restock our supplies in Akureyri and make one final stop at Goðafoss before heading to the campsite near Reykjahlið at Myvatn. This will be our northernmost campsite, less than a degree south of the Arctic Circle. |
| August 5
Day #5 |
Reykjahlið | Reykjahlið | In the morning we'll drive around Myvatn to see the products of the Myvatn Fires. We'll walk through the pseudocraters area to see some of them close up. After lunch we'll walk through Dimmuborgir and climb to the top of Hverfjall tuff cone with excellent views of the rift. |
| August 6
Day #6 |
Reykjahlið | Reykjahlið | In the morning, we'll drive to the Namasfjall geothermal area, on the Eurasian Plate, and walk among the geysers and the bubbling pools. Then we'll enter Krafla caldera. After a brief visit to the Viti lake, we'll hike across the patterned ground of the tundra to the rift, the locus of the 1975-1980 Krafla Fires. The remainder of the day will be spent exploring the features of the rift. |
| August 7
Day #7 |
Reykjahlið | Askja | We'll leave the Myvatn area and drive southward across the Central Iceland Desert toward the Vatnajökull. We'll pass close to the Heatherbreid Table Mountain and may have time for a quick hike to its base. Upon arrival at Askjá caldera, we'll hike to the viti and descend to its warm acid waters. Swimming in the water said to be curative for just about everything so it is encouraged. We'll camp in the caldera. |
| August 8
Day #8 |
Askja | Egilsstaðir | This will be a relatively short drive toward the East Iceland coast. We will restock our supplies and camp in Egilsstaðir. |
| August 9
Day #9 |
Egilstaðir | Skaftafell
National Park |
On our way to Skaftafell National Park, we'll stop at the Jókulsarlon iceberg lake. Those who want to may take a boat ride back to the glacial front. We'll also have many views of valley glaciers descending from the Vatnajókull. |
| August 10
Day #10 |
Skaftafell
National Park |
Skaftafell
National Park |
This will be a free day to explore the trails of the national park. We'll start of by visiting the columnar joints at Swartifoss but then groups can hike the trail(s) of their choice. |
| August 11
Day #11 |
Skaftafell
National Park |
Kirkubæjarklauster | We will travel directly to Kirkubaejarklauster and set up camp. In the afternoon, we will climb Laki volcano for a view of Lakigígar, the site of the 1783 fissure eruption. We will also have views of the western side of the Vatnajökull. |
| August 12
Day #12 |
Kirkubæjarklauster | Landmannalauger | In the morning we'll visit the beautiful Eldgjá valley and falls. Then we will continue on to Landmannalauger and its famous geothermal water. |
| August 13
Day #13 |
Landmannalauger | Landmannalauger | This will be another free day for exploration and/or relaxation. There is a fairly long hike along the large obsidian flow, through several geothermal areas, to an ice tunnel. It is worth the walk. |
| August 14
Day #14 |
Landmannalauger | Reykjavík | In the morning we will drive by Hekla volcano. If weather permits, we may hike to the summit. We will return to Reykjavík's municipal campground in the afternoon. There will be time for shopping and tourism. |
| August 15
Day 15 |
Reykjavík | Baltimore and Home | We will make one final stop on our way to the airport at the Blue Lagoon. This is where the geothermal water used for heating in Reykjavík is released into the ocean. In the afternoon, we'll catch our plane and return to the U. S. |
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Email Dr. James Reynolds JR's Home Page Return to GSA Division of Environmental Studies, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences |