Today was easily my favorite day of the trip so far! We started the morning with our usual breakfast before heading out on the South Coast. Our first stop was the Lava Center where we learned about volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and the geological history that shaped Iceland. It was really interesting to see how active the earth is here and how volcanoes and glaciers interact to constantly reshape the landscape.
After the Lava Centre, we headed to our first waterfall, Seljalandsfoss. It was incredibly tall and powerful, and we took lots of pictures there. The rain and sunlight created a beautiful rainbow near the waterfall which made the view even more magical. Everyone in the group had such a fun time exploring and enjoying the scenery.
Next we visited Skógafloss, which might have been the most breathtaking view of the entire trip so far. The weather was beautiful, and with the sunlight hitting the waterfall it created a huge double rainbow that we could almost stand inside of. It honestly felt unreal! We even hiked up to the top of the waterfall and were able to see stunning mountains and several smaller waterfalls flowing through the landscape. It was truly an unforgettable stop.
After that we visited the Skógar Museum. There we learned about fishing, pottery, transportation, and daily life in Iceland over 100 years ago. We also saw old turf houses with grass roofs that people used to live in. The turf helped insulate the homes and keep heat inside during the cold climate. Seeing the artifacts and walking inside the old buildings was eye opening and showed how people adapted to the limited resources and harsh environment.
Later in the day we visited the Sólheimajökull glacier. Seeing a glacier in real life was something I never imagined experiencing. The science behind how glaciers form, move, and melt is fascinating. You could clearly see the ice mixed with dark volcanic ash and sediment, which shows how closely Iceland’s volcanoes and glaciers interact. Our guide also mentioned that visitors cannot go past the main viewing area because the ice and ground can be unstable and dangerous.
Before heading to our hotel, we stopped at Reynisfjara black sand beach. The only beaches I have ever visited before were typical sandy beaches, so seeing one made from black volcanic sand was amazing. The waves were extremely powerful and the contrast of the dark sand with the ocean was breathtaking.
We finished the evening with grocery shopping before settling into our new hotel for dinner. I tried arctic char for the first time and it was delicious. It was served with beetroot purée and vegetables, and I honestly wished I could have eaten more. The brownie dessert afterward might have been one of the best desserts I have ever had. Icelandic chocolate is definitely better than what we have in the U.S., so my expectations were high and they were absolutely met.
After dinner we relaxed at the hotel for a while before heading to bed. One cool thing about the hotel is that you have to insert your room key into a slot to turn the lights on. This prevents electricity from being used when people leave the room, which is a simple but smart way to promote sustainability.
Overall this day connected really well to what we have been learning about sustainability and chemical engineering. Many of the natural systems we saw today, like glaciers, volcanoes, and geothermal activity, are closely tied to energy, climate, and environmental processes. Iceland is a great example of how people adapt engineering and infrastructure to work with nature rather than against it. From insulating homes with natural materials in the past to modern energy-saving systems in hotels today, it shows how science and engineering can help create more sustainable ways of living. This made the entire day not only beautiful and exciting, but also really meaningful from a learning perspective
Swanson School of Engineering 