Today, we traveled around the Snæfelles peninsula. After eating breakfast and making a stop at Barnfoss (a series of waterfalls cutting into a lava field), we made our way to Ytri Tunga, a beach on the peninsula. Even before we had pulled into the parking lot for the beach, I noticed how huge the waves were; they looked like they could have been created by a hurricane. As we got onto the beach itself, we were able to see the effects these waves had on the landscape through the numerous rocky outcroppings lying around. These rocks also hosted seals, though we could only get distant glimpses of them. When we drove into the beach, the weather was almost pleasant; it wasn’t too windy, and the sun shone through a break in the clouds. However, within about 15 minutes, the wind picked up, and sleet began raining. With the wind being so strong, the sleet fell almost horizontally, and we quickly retreated back to the bus. I think this visit to the beach was a reminder of how powerful nature can be and how it has defined both the landscape and culture of Iceland. After the beach, we ate lunch and then made our way to our next stop. While passing through the countryside, we were able to get a clear view of the landscape of Snæfelles. It was a strip of grassland and pasture sandwiched between the sea and the mountains. It was similar to the landscape on the road between Reykjavik and Borganes but even more remote. However, it was a marked contrast with the barren terrain of the lava fields; I enjoyed the much lusher Snæfelles. With the mountains rising above the pasture land, I could see why this area of Iceland had been used for scenes in Game of Thrones and as inspiration for the many Sagas and mythology that have been written.
Our second stop in Snæfelles was the Armastapi cliffs, where we saw the Gatklettur, a natural arch formation. We also stopped at the Malariff lighthouse, overlooking more cliffs. However, because of the wind, we didn’t stay too long and had to return. Overall, it was a fun excursion, even if the weather wasn’t cooperative. I’m excited to see more signs tomorrow at Thingvellier.
Swanson School of Engineering 