Iceland part two

In November 2024 the volcano south of the airport decided to flex its magma and attempt to wipe out a town, destroy a few roads and seriously threaten the Blue Lagoon and the nearest power plant. It was spectacular! Not world-impacting like the 2010 eruption of E17 (which is on the glacier we later visited) - but still impressive. Would we see lava? Well, not 'in the flesh' as it were. The volcano was rumbly, but not performing for visitors when we were in Iceland.

Human made lava

Day two: doing the cultural bit. We had our breakfast and headed into Reykjavik, having decided that the Lava show and Northern Lights exhibition were the two places we wanted to head to. Deciding on the Norther Lights first (we hadn't seen them yet, as it was so cloudy), we rocked up to find it shut! And a sign on the door saying they'd moved - phew! We headed to the new venue but arrived at the Lava show venue first, with just 10 minutes before the 12 o'clock show. Lava first! 

When a couple watched the lava flow past their house, they were awestruck. They wanted us all to share in the wonder, but without the evacuations, ruined roads and danger to life. So they built this show with a massive burner that melts the black laval sands and turns them back into hot lava. It was mesmerising! The presenter, Joanna, gave a really interesting talk on the geology of Iceland, how the lava is released, types of lava flow (using two cute but forgotten Hawaiian terms), and then demonstrated how it would buckle, turn into glass, and retain heat even when the surface was cold. She made lava strands (witches hair) and - as the lava had already been melted once and was 'gas free' - the result was like black glass. 

Northern lights watching

After a very enjoyable 'demonstration' we went next door to the Northern Lights exhibition. You might wonder how they can showcase a natural phenomenon, but they did a great job. There were really clear explanations of what causes them, where they happen, the different colours (different heights in the atmosphere) and an amazing photography display in an almost cinema-sized room where you could sit, or even lie down and watch the Northern lights in all their glory. If we didn't see them in real life, this would be the next best thing! The tour finished with steel swivel pod chairs and a VR headset that worked amazingly. We got our Northern Lights fix!

Driving out of Reykjavik we headed to the Harper Hall (an amazing building) but as we could not park anywhere, we headed out by following the coast road. It didn't take long to reach a lighthouse and a nature reserve. We could have walked to the lighthouse along a little causeway, but the tide was coming in and we didn't fancy an afternoon being buffeted on the lighthouse island, waiting for the tide to go out again. Instead we started to walk along the sea wall (looking down on black sand) and we saw our first proper wildlife: King Eider ducks, purple sandpiper (a first for me) and a speeding hawk that must have ben a gyr falcon, although it was too speedy for a confirmed ID. We had a lovely walk through the nature reserve up to a large pond with Whooper swans, pink footed geese and a host of other ducks. The wind was whistling round us, and it was overcast, but the fresh cold air was exhilarating. 

On our way back we stopped for a late lunch at a small restaurant and we had raw beef and cooked cheese. I say 'we', but I ate most of it.

Liked this? Try...

• Iceland part 1
• Too fat for a Pole
• Above the salt

Useful links:

• The Lava Show
• The Northern Lights Centre

All photos (C) Carolyn Sheppard