Day 2 of trip, Day 1 of Back Roads Cruise -Nesjavellir and ₫ingvellir (Thingvellir)

Hengill Geothermal Hiking Area:  

Iceland is 100% sustainable energy: 75% is hydro-electric and 25% thermal energy. 

Geothermal pipe system is possible because volcanic/earthquake activity. Hot water is piped through 25 km of pipe that hovers terrain; ball bearings in pilings allows flexibility. Important due to continual earthquake activity. Pumping systems along the 25 km of pipe controls speed of water and neutralizes pressure.  The pipes end within the Perlan in 5 huge storage tanks and provides energy for Reykjavik (remember yesterday pictures?)

Lake Thingvellir-Glacier that feeds the lake is destined to vanish by 2065 (trajectory with climate change). The rebound from the loss of pressure and ice will destroy the geothermal system within the lake and surrounding area.

Borehole Dome: houses valves to control the tremendous pressure from the hot liquid and then move the water to the pipes on left. Pipes on right are back-up if the pressure gets too high.

Thermal vent-reveals activity

 Vegetation-Icelandic moss holds top soil. As dies, adds nutrients and more earth that allows more vegetation. Highly acidic/nitrogen in rocks is natural fertilizer, but needs the plants to break down the rocks and release the nitrogen.

Streams that flow close to the thermal vents pick up minerals and are highly acidic-no plant life, (stream in farther away in picture) where merge with stream that is not near vent (nearer in picture) certain algae and bacterium have evolved. Also true around some of the mud pots. Micro-level of Iceland where fire and ice merge.

Mud Pots-surging of steam to the surface through vents in the earth

Mud pots: The pressure from the magna about 1.5 km below the surface is released through vents in the earth, the hot steam picks up minerals, usually highly acidic. Carves out terrain so hollow around the pots. {Lose a few sheep who venture too close}

Some mud pots highly alkaline-different minerals so algae has adapted and grow. Beside acidic pot -different vents. The pot in the forefront is alkaline and some algae has formed. The pot in the background is acidic.  (Similar to Yellowstone National Park)

Magna-under earth, lava-above earth: composition changes when cool

Thingvellir (₫ingvellir)

Rift-between tetanic plates. In Iceland the plates are pushing apart.  The Western portion of Iceland is the oldest (35-40 million years old), Eastern next oldest. The middle section of Iceland is the youngest. 

Thingvellir-only place on Earth that there is external evidence of tetanic plate separation-rift.

Walking within the rift

The rift is pushed even further apart.

Rock formations within the rift

Oxar₫ra’foss-water fall: a’-(ow)-river, foss-water fall

First settlers redirected water in 900 AD so there would be a water source for National Assembly.

During New Year also certain magical powers-would predict what would occur in future

First settlement 874 AD were Vikings fleeing Norway, didn’t want a dictator. Established Goḑi-each in charge of a family and then spread out over a large area. In 930 AD first Outhinge-Parliament-court and legislation in this location and each year there after.

1662-1944 Fell under Denmark Monarchy, During WWII, important to Allies, US army stationed in Iceland. Strategic for sighting Germany U-Boats. Iceland requested US help in getting independence from Denmark. Iceland wrote a letter to Denmark stating that they were independent. With a nudge from the US, Denmark, who was immersed in fighting off Germany, wrote back their support of Iceland's independence.

Religion was originally Norse, but in 1000 AD the leader of the Outhinge declared the adoption of Christianity. Norway sent timbers and a bell to build the first church on the location of the picture.

Additional information:

Iceland’s language is heart of culture

Guns are illegal except hunting rifles-12 gauge type even police don’t carry guns