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Summer (May to Sep)
Winter (Oct to Apr)
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| Month. |
Daybreak |
Dusk |
| Jan. |
10:03 |
16:59 |
| Feb. |
09:13 |
18:11 |
| March |
07:46 |
19:35 |
| April |
05:55 |
21:10 |
| May |
03:50 |
23:04 |
| June |
24 hr. |
daylight |
| July |
24 hr. |
daylight |
| Aug. |
03:06 |
23:57 |
| Sept. |
05:17 |
21:35 |
| Oct. |
06:50 |
19:43 |
| Nov. |
08:18 |
18:03 |
| Dec. |
09:36 |
16:57 |
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| The South West |
| South west Iceland has the island's most important historical site - Thingvellir, extensive volcanic areas - among them the Reykjanes Peninsula and Hekla, an enormous amount of geothermal activity including the famous Blue Lagoon and the Geysir area. It is also the islands most extensively farmed region. |
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| The Blue Lagoon & Reykjanes Peninsula |
Shaped like an outstretched leg, the volcanic Reykjanes Peninsula forms Iceland's south west corner. Though dormant since the 15th century, the region's volcanoes have left a legacy of vast lava flows, splendid crater rows and abundant geothermal activity, including the mud pools and steam vents of Krisuvik. Harnessing the peninsula's steam and hot water to supply local towns and villages has also created one of Iceland's most unusual attractions, the stunning Blue Lagoon. Bathing in its mineral-rich, powder-blue waters is an experience that most visitors rank as a highlight of their holiday. Close by is Iceland's international airport and town of Keflavik, also the jumping off point for whale watching trips to view minke whales, white-beaked dolphins and occasionally other cetaceans. The coastal cliffs of the peninsula's southern and western shores attract breeding seabirds.
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| Hveragerdi, Selfoss & Eyrarbakki |
| Three towns less than an hour's drive from Reykjavik. Hveragerdi (pop. 1,700) is Iceland's centre for greenhouse cultivation. Using the area's abundant geothermal springs for heating, tomatoes, cucumbers and many cut flowers and house plants are grown under glass. Selfoss (pop. 4,300) lies on the banks of the the Olfusa River at the foot of Mt. Ingolfsfjall in the heart of Iceland's most extensive farming district. A centre for the dairy industry, the town has a full range of facilities for visitors. Close by is the explosion crater Kerid, with a blue-green lake. A south coast fishing village with excellent bird watching along its shoreline, especially in early spring, Eyrarbakki (pop. 518) has an excellent local history museum and many pretty timber homes along it's single street. |
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| Thingvellir, Gullfoss & Geysir |
| A trio of major attractions that epitomise the natural beauty of Iceland. Thingvellir is a National Park on the shores of Iceland's largest lake Excellent for birds and wildflowers the area is also of exceptional geological interest. Among its gaping rifts and lava flows, the ancient assembly of Althing met for centuries and settle disputes between rival chieftains. Gullfoss, the "Golden Falls", is for many people Iceland's most beautiful waterfall. Around 33m in height, it drops in two stages into a mile long gorge. Nearby Geysir has the island's only regularly spouting geyser, Strokkur, which erupts 30m every few minutes. The great Geysir after which all other take their name, erupts only occasionally, but there are many other interesting hot springs on the site. |
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| © RTH Sigurdsson |
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Iceland
