Gudrun's photos with the keyword: Norðurland vestra

MM2.0: Birkenpilz und Zwergbirke. Birkenpilze wachsen in Island sehr zahlreich und zuerst fragt man sich, wo denn die Birken sind;-) Zwergbirken haben einen kriechenden Wuchs, die Blätter sind 0.5 bis maximal 1,5cm groß (an diesem Standort im Norden waren sie winzig!). Birch bolete and dwarf birch. Birch boletes can be found in large numbers all over Iceland and at first sight people always wonder where the birches are;-) Dwarf birches are creeping shrubs with leaves that are 0,5- max. 1,5cm (in this case at an exposed site in the North they were tiny!). nicht mehr frisch

HFF everybody! For all who haven't seen the good news from IMA: www.ipernity.com/group/2260604/discuss/187672

Tumulus in a lava field near Hveravellir. Tumuli are lava crusts upliftet by pressure of fluid pahoehoe lava from below and are typically cracked along their axis. This one was used as a sheep pen by Iceland's most famous outlaw, Fjalla Eyvindur (1714-1783). He and his wife Halla are said to have survived 20 years in the highlands where most thermal areas are associated with them. In the notes: Eyvindarhver, the hot spring where they did their cooking and Eyvindarkofi, the lava cave which served as their shelter. Tumulus in einem Lavafeld bei Hveravellir. Tumuli entstehen aus erstarrter Lavakruste, die durch den Druck noch flüssiger Pahoehoe-Lava darunter angehoben wird, typisch sind die axialen Risse. Dieser Tumulus wurde von Islands berühmtestem Outlaw, Fjalla Eyvindur (1714-1783), als Schafpferch benutzt. Er und seine Frau Halla sollen 20 Jahre im Hochland überlebt haben, fast jede thermale Oase wird mit ihnen in Verbindung gebracht. In den PiPs: Eyvindarhver, die heiße Quelle, die sie als Kochtopf benutzt haben und Eyvindarkofi, eine Lavahöhle, ihre "Wohnung".

Öskurhóll (roaring hill) is a fumarole with sinter mound in Hveravellir geothermal area. It makes a constant loud noise like a tea kettle gone mad. In the background Bláhver hot spring can be seen. Öskurhóll (brüllender Hügel) ist eine Fumarole mit Sinterhügel im Hochtemperaturgebiet Hveravellir, die ständig pfeift wie ein wildgewordener Teekessel. Im Hintergrund sieht man die heiße Quelle Bláhver. Good news from IMA! www.ipernity.com/group/2260604/discuss/187672

Rauðihver (red hot spring) is a muddy hot spring in Hveravellir (valley of hot springs) high temperature area. Hveravellir lies just off highland road 35 (Kjalvegur) at 650m on the Kjölur plateau between Hofsjökull and Langjökull glaciers. It comprises of at least 150 hydrothermal features and is part of Langjökull central volcano (sometimes also called Hveravellir central volcano). Rauðihver (rote heiße Quelle) ist ein schlammige heiße Springquelle im Hochtemperaturgebiet Hveravellir. Dieses liegt auf 650m nahe der Hochlandpiste 35 (Kjalvegur) zwischen den Gletschern Hofsjökull und Langjökull und gehört zum Zentralvulkan Langjökull (auch Hveravellir gennant). de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hveravellir

Farm on Vatnsnes Peninsula near Hvammstangi, looking towards Miðfjörður, a side fjord of Húnaflói. Húnaflói means "Bay of the young icebears" because sometimes in winter icebears from Greenland drift ashore on their iceflows. With global warming this is getting rare though. The building on the right is a traditional fish drying shed.

A circular sheep pen on Vatnsnes peninsula looking west over Miðfjörður (Húnaflói).When the sheep are gathered in autumn they are sorted by owner into the "spokes" of the pen.

On the gravel road round Vatnsnes Peninsula. The sheep ran away (see inset) and the horses were in hiding;-) HFF everybody!

Hvítserkur (white shirt) is an eroded basalt plug on the east coast of Vatnsnes peninsula, in an old and long extinct rift zone. The white patches are guano from nesting fulmars and kittiwakes. Legend has it that a troll was caught out by the sun while throwing stones at Þingeyrar church.

Hverarönd high temperature geothermal field sports fumaroles, solfatares and mudpools. It lies at the foot of Námafjall and is part of the Krafla volcanic system.

Near Varmahlíð, Skagafjörður, one of the main centres of horse breeding in Iceland. Tölt is a gait unique to Icelandic horses which enables them to move over rough terrain for a long time without tiring.

Sea mist starting to creep in over farmland at Miklavatn, Skagafjörður.

At Sauðárkrókur harbour looking NE over Skagafjörður to Tröllaskagi peninsula

Not so very long ago Icelanders ate the fish heads themselves and exported the fillets. Now the heads are exported to Africa.

At Sauðárkrókur harbour, looking NW to Skagi peninsula and Tindastóll mountains

River Víðidalsá flows through 40-50m deep Kolugljúfur canyon. Folklore has it that a female troll called Kola dug the gorge.

Looking down into Kolugljúfur canyon. A small deep pool reflects the blue sky.

This lighthouse from 1950 is 14m high and looks over Miðfjörður (Húnaflói) towards Vestfirðir. Vatnsnes peninsula lies on an old rift zone which has become inactive 5 mio years ago.