Awesome volcanic landscape - Lake Myvatn area

After the exciting whale-watching cruise, we spent another day and a half in north Iceland.  The highlights included Asbyrgi, a horsehoe-shaped gorge, the unique and fascinating landscape of the Lake Myvatn area, and three waterfalls that took our breaths away. Yes, it's true - there are so many waterfalls in Iceland, yet they are all different and when you see them, you can't help but gasp at their sheer power.

Asbyrgi the gorge is reputedly the hoof print of Odin's horse but it's so big, it's impossible to do it justice in a photo, unlike that other horseshoe canyon in Arizona.  Lake Myvatn lived up to its reputation as "mosquito lake" - in our case, it was flies.  It was a good thing we read about this before we came and because we were also going to the Scottish highlands after this, we were well-prepared with midge nets - and they did their job! You can see one photo below where my lens was covered with flies - it was almost impossible to even take a photo once you're surrounded.

The lava formations at Dimmuborgir near the Lake was unique but my favourite site was Namaskard with its spectacular Namafjall volcanic mountain, at the foot of which is a surreal landscape of sulphur mud springs and steam springs.  The red mountain is gorgeous - and wild. 

Godafoss (God's falls - where the gods threw their enemies) was awe-inspiring and we got to see its gushing power all the way as we hiked up the canyon to the head of the falls. Dettifoss, the biggest one in Iceland was in my opinion the least attractive of the falls - it's big, that's all. Selfoss, a short hike from Dettifoss, is actually much prettier and I wish we had more time to hike closer and be able to capture it in better light. 

It was an awesome trip through the unique landscape of the north.

I thought this photo neatly summarized the landscape in the north - it went from snow-capped mountains and glaciers to lush green farmland, then dry volcanic desert - what a contrast!

Asbyrgi, in between the two ridges, is the horseshoe gorge

We drove alongside the gorge - these are the walls. It was impossible to capture the gorge in its entirety.

The gorge below Godafoss was a sight in itself

Godafoss from the top and from its foot (photo below). The hike down was a little treacherous but we did it.

This little waterfall over red standstone stood out in sharp contrast beside the gorge

Lake Myvatn - the crater on the left is considered a pseudo-crater

The spots on this photo are flies

A pair of tufted ducks at the lake

Lava formations at

Dimmuborgir- this one looks like a statue

 

Lake Myvatn from another angle

Blue Lagoon of the north in the foreground

The ring road cutting through the red dunes

Namafjall volcanic mountain

Mud springs at the foot of the mountain

Dettifoss decorated by the required rainbow

The beautiful and complex Selfoss

Basalt columns on the side of the gorge leading from Selfoss

Flowers growing out of rocks

The landscape of the falls

We had a break in a little town with turf houses and the cutest gas station.

And we reached the town of Egilsstadir for the night - the lupines were blooming by the roadside.