https://youtu.be/I1i-jgqW7FI Iceland has a population of 400K and is known as the “Land of Fire & Ice”. In this video, we will show the 6 attractions near Reykjavík first. The next video will show the remaining attractions. The population and number of attractions are shown.
First we will show the 6 attractions in Reykjavík.
- At Blue Lagoon, silica is responsible for the lagoon’s iconic blue color and white mud:
Silica reflects blue wavelengths of visible light while absorbing the rest. This gives the lagoon its milky blue hue. The silica molecules can form white mud – see the silica on the rocks. But one warning: this silica can make your hair stiff and difficult to manage. Free Shampoo and conditioners are provided in the locker rooms. But the intention of the hair conditioner is different from your normal use, so many people use it the wrong way. You will shower before you enter the Lagoon, and should apply conditioner. Because the purpose of conditioner is to protect your hair from silica, DO NOT rinse the conditioner off, you want the conditioner to stay there to protect your hair.
Blue Lagoon lockers are free but without instructions on how to use them. Here are the 4 steps: i). Put your stuff in the locker
ii). Close the locker, immediately you hear the sound and see the countdown timer from the display.
iii). Place your wristband closer to the display to confirm you occupy that particular locker number, in my case it was #258.
iv). Try to see if the locker is actually locked. If you want to test it, you can place your wristband on the display again to unlock it. Then make sure to repeat the process to lock it again.
You can see the silica on the rocks, at the bottom you can feel the green algae. The warm water is relaxing. You can get silica mud masks at the in-water mask bar, apply it to your face in front of the mirror, and after 10 minutes rinse off.
Also you can have a drink at the in-water beverage bar.
Visit the steam bath & the sauna. There are some hot showers outside.
Next 3 attractions are on what is known as the Golden Circle – a circuit which can be easily done as a day trip and which includes the most famous scenic spots near Reykjavik .
- Þingvellir National Park
Þingvellir is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Iceland where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. You can take a walk between two continents, on my right is the North American and on my left is the Eurasian continent.
If the scenery looks familiar to you, it’s because Thingvellir was the shooting location for many Game of Thrones scenes. There are plenty of hiking trails all around if you have time.
Thingvellir in Icelandic is spelled þingvellir. The sound of þ is very similar to the th sound in English. Thingvellir also has great historic and national significance as the location in which Iceland’s parliament, which continues to this day, first convened and then continued to meet for more than 850 years.
Entrance to Thingvellir National Park is completely free of charge.
- Geysir Geothermal Park
Geysir is an Icelandic word from which our English word “geyser” originates. The Icelandic pronunciation of “geysir”. THE Geysir for which the park is named is mostly dormant, although it does occasionally erupt. If there has been an earthquake recently, be alert for possible eruption! Luckily, there are other geysers and one in particular , Strokkur, erupts every 5-10 minutes, delighting visitors. If one eruption is fairly small, just hang around a little while and you will most likely catch a large one. Its usual height is 15–20 meters, although it can sometimes erupt up to 40 meters (130 ft) high. However, if you are planning on filming it you will have to be alert and quick! In 1963, this geyser was blocked, but it was manually unblocked by drilling a 40-meter hole into the bottom of the basin. If you walk a little further, this is what it looks like from further away. You can walk to the top of the hill and look down over the pools and geysers for an excellent view. You can see the range of smaller geysers, geothermal pools and bubbling fumaroles at the site too, there are plenty of hiking trails if you have time.
Notice the warning sign of pickpocketing, to remind visitors to be aware of pickpockets in crowded places.
- Gullfoss waterfall
Gullfoss is fed by the Hvita River and plunges into a dramatic canyon, creating two distinct drops that total around 105 feet (32 meters) in height. The Hvítá River originates from the Langjökull glacier, flowing through Iceland’s rugged landscape before dramatically plunging over the two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall. Rather than being a single cascade, Gullfoss is made up of two stages: the first drop is 36 feet (11 meters), followed by a second, larger plunge of 69 feet (21 meters). Together, these stages create an incredible display of nature’s power.
There is no entrance fee but there is a parking fee at the Gullfoss visitor center.
- Hallgrimskirkja
Hallgrímskirkja – let’s practice pronunciation with a native speaker. It is the largest church in Iceland and among the tallest structures in the country. Known for its distinctively curved spire and side wings, it is one of the city’s best-known landmarks and is visible throughout the city. Although a relatively recent structure, less than 100 years old, many describe it as having become an important symbol for Iceland’s national identity.
The entrance to the church is free. It only costs when you want to take the elevator to the tower, which is highly recommended to see the city. The church has a carillon of bells at the top, that ring each hour.
The pipe organ is very impressive and is Iceland’s largest musical instrument. Installation was completed in 1992 There are 102 ranks, 72 stops and 5275 pipes. It is 49 ft tall and weighs 25 metric tons.
- City
This Rainbow Road was first painted in 2015 to celebrate Reykjavík Pride and is repainted annually to show Icelandic people are generally open-minded.
This is a sculpture garden: Einar Jónsson Sculpture Park
Harpa Concert Hall
Sun Voyager sculpture
Timestamp
0:0 Iceland overview Reykjavík, Haimaey & Djupivogur
0:28 Blue Lagoon
0:50 silica & Wrong Way using hair conditioner
1:22 how to use Blue Lagoon lockers
2:12 silica mud masks
2:43 drink at in-water beverage bar
3:02 steam bath, sauna & hot showers
3:18 þingvellir National Park, UNESCO
4:00 Icelandic pronunciation of þingvellir
4:53 Geysir Geothermal Park, Icelandic pronunciation
5:16 Strokkur
6:35 Gullfoss waterfall, Icelandic pronunciation
8:09 Hallgrimskirkja, Icelandic pronunciation
8:53 bells tower
9:21 impressive pipe organ
9:49 Rainbow Road
10:09 Einar Jónsson Sculpture Park
10:28 Harpa Concert Hall
10:47 Sun Voyager sculpture
Reykjavik, Iceland – Top 6 attractions: Blue Lagoon, Þingvellir, Gullfoss, Geysir & Hallgrimskirkja