On the road from Vik to Skaftafell National Park

Our first stop after leaving Reykjavik on October 6th was at Reynisfjara beach near Vík.  There are basalt columns, black sand and two sea stacks.  The weather was overcast and there were many people on the beach so it wasn't the most promising for photographs.  It was very lovely to see.  I made an attempt at an HDR photo at this location (sandwiching multiple shots with different exposures to compensate for the range in correct exposure).  It isn't great I think because the waves and clouds were moving but it gives you an idea of what the beach looked like.

Reynisfjara Beach

We drove through the Eldhraun Lava field which goes on for many miles.  It was created by the 1783 Lakagíga volcanic eruption that caused famine throughout Europe.  The Lakagiga eruption wasn't a single event, but rather 8 months' worth of lava flows and explosions.  

Eldhraun Lava field

 

Closer to Skaftafell National Park we stopped at Gigjukvisl Bridge where the ruins of the old bridge are on display.  In 1996 a big glacier run was caused by the eruption of  the volcano Grimsvötn on Vatnajökull (a glacier - skull is a glacier).  The bridge was destroyed by floating ice boulders the size of a house! 

We reached Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon at dusk and returned to the site several times during our stay at Hali Country Hotel near Skaftafell National Park.

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon at sunset

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon at sunset

We came back to this location the following morning to photograph ice on the black sand beach which this lagoon feeds into.  The beach did not have very much ice on it this morning so we returned to the lagoon.  Rain made us run for cover and then rewarded us with a lovely rainbow!

 

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon at sunrise

 

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon at sunrise the rainbow arrives and you can see the rain in the distance

Double rainbow!

Looking out toward the black sand beach

Our next stop of the day was at another glacier, I believe Vatnajökull glacier but am not certain.

If you look at this photo full screen you can see the ice hole and the people exploring just left of center.

We ended our day back at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon to photograph the aurora.  It was cold and overcast but the clouds eventually cleared and we got some pretty good shots.