Helllloooo everyone! Welcome to day 6 of Iceland!
Last night we got to see the northern lights (finally!!!). After a few nights of hoping the clouds would clear, they actually appeared. Green streaks slowly moved across the sky and it honestly was crazy to experience in person.
The next morning we were back on the road again. Our first stop was the viewpoint overlooking Reynisfjara Beach. From above we could watch the massive waves crashing into the black sand shoreline. The ocean there is intense, and even from the viewpoint you can see how strong the currents are.
Later in the day we visited the Hellisheioi Power Plant geothermal exhibition, which was honestly one of the coolest engineering sites we’ve seen on the trip. The power plant uses geothermal energy from deep underground reservoirs created by Iceland’s volcanic activity. Hot water and steam rise through wells drilled into the earth, and that steam is used to spin turbines that generate electricity. After the steam passes through the turbines, the remaining hot water is also used for district heating, sending heat through pipelines to homes in Reykjavik.
Inside the exhibition we learned how the plant balances energy production with environmental concerns. One interesting system they talked about was the carbon capture process where carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide gases are captured and injected back into basalt rock underground. Over time, the gases mineralize and turn into solid rock, helping reduce emissions. Seeing how Iceland uses its geology to power cities while also trying to manage environmental impacts was really fascinating.
After the power plant we headed toward Reykjavik, where Olof showed us some of the sights around the city. We ended the day with dinner at a restaurant that had the cutest aesthetic. The meal was definitely adventurous. We tried horse tartar (which ended up being my favorite) and puffin as well. It was fun getting to try foods that are unique to Iceland.
That’s all for today! Now we’re off to explore more of the city.
PEACE OUT!
Swanson School of Engineering 