Gullfoss Falls of Iceland
Who would ever guess that
a broad river flowing down from
distant pure white glaciers
could drop so suddenly over a
black lava rim only to turn sharply
at a right angle and do the same
all over again doubling the
intensity of its roar in torrents
as white as distant glaciers.
By Willie D. and Matthew C.
We started our day bright and early with an 8 a.m. breakfast before heading to the bus. We drove 90 minutes northwest to the Gullfoss waterfall where we spent time taking in its beauty. The waterfall was a deep blue color and produced a cooling mist. Much of the water was frozen on the top layer, but there were a few breaks in the ice that showed the roaring river.
After visiting the waterfall and taking many photos, we sat down for lunch where we ate a traditional lamb soup. The soup consisted of carrots, turnips, and other traditional Icelandic vegetables.
Shortly thereafter, we stepped onto a Sleipnir, a massive truck designed for traversing the treacherous Icelandic Highlands. In Norse Mythology, Sleipnir is an eight-legged horse that was beloved by the god Odin. This name is fitting as the truck also had 8 “legs” (wheels).
We drove 60 minutes through the Highlands to Stor Jarl, a mountain directly next to the Langjökull, the second largest glacier in Iceland and where the vast majority of the Icelandic population gets its tap water. Before entering the cave, the group climbed up a large snow mound to then body sled down. Our tour guide, Kimberly, provided us with crampons to help us traverse the slippery conditions of the cave. After putting on the crampons, we trekked down to a cave beneath the glacier surface and spent 20 minutes exploring inside.
We learned that the glacier is created over hundreds of thousands of years when snow compresses. To make one centimeter of glacial ice, it takes 5 – 8 meters of compacted snow. At its thickest point, Langjökull is nearly 2000 feet thick, with a total area of approximately 365 square miles.
Underneath Langjökull was absolutely gorgeous. The ice was many different shades of blues that sparkled under light. Seeing the glacier was a reminder of how heavily the Icelandic people rely on the resources around them and the ways in which they use them to sustain their lifestyles.
The Sleipnir was only one of the few vehicles that can make this trek through the highlands the the glacier. Snow drifts from windy days forced us to drive through 3 feet of snow after we left paved roads. While roads in the Highlands are accessible from late June to late October using 4×4 vehicles, during the winter months, regular people cannot travel into the highlands. Most of the winter travelers take either the large trucks or snowmobiles. This shows how drastically Icelandic conditions can change and how they affect surrounding communities. For example, only five towns in Iceland are not directly connected to the ocean which shows how heavily Icelanders rely on the ocean and how barren and unpopulated the center of the country is.
The ride out to the glacier provided time for Kimberly, our tour guide, to tell us stories about the land, including how some of the mountains were formed by trolls who spent the night dancing and turned to stone when the sun rose. Stories like this remind us of how important Icelandic folklore is to their culture and how unchanged the culture is. Iceland was settled in approximately the year 874, yet the Icelandic language has remained nearly unchanged, allowing today’s generation to read sagas written thousands of years ago, teaching them both about their culture and the place they inhabit.
After an hour long bus ride back to our hotel, we enjoyed a delicious smorgasbord at 6:30. The main entrees were slow-roasted lamb, beef goulash, chicken tomato pasta, beef lasagna, and catfish lasagna. Dessert was a delicious chocolate cake with subtle coffee undertones.
After dinner, we reconvened at 8 for our daily reflection. Many of the students expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to explore the glacier and go inside the glacial cave.