Námafjall
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July 2006: A visit to Námafjall |
Námafjall is a geothermically active area in the northeast of Iceland. The area is populated with bubbling mud pools, steaming fumeroles, and colorful parched earth. |
Plant life can't grow in the harsh soil at Námafjall. Layers of mineral salts slowly build a crust over the more active areas. Distant hulking mountains provide a backdrop that gives some sense of scale to the landscape. |
Stiff winds carry away the steam from this vent. Iceland sits on the mid-Atlantic rift, where the North American and European plates are drifting apart. This literally rips open a wound in the earth. In a sense, Iceland is made of the earth's scar tissue. |
Námafjall is near the active volcanic area of Krafla. Krafla has experienced many volcanic eruptions, most recently in the 1980s. A geothermal plant is also located nearby. |
The rich splashes of color at Námafjall make endless beautiful works of art. |
Where is it? Námafjall is located just a few kilometers east of the lake Mývatn, along part of the ring road - hwy 1. |
Before you go... There is no admission fee, nor hours of operation at Námafjall. The best time to visit is probably the early morning - before the tour busses arrive. |