One week ago today (5)....

...we had a day when water was our theme.



It started with a steep climb up an old volcanic cone, Stora Dimon, to gain an extensive view of the glacial outwash river Markarfljot...

From there we headed to the first of the two waterfalls we studied last Saturday. This is Seljalandsfoss, Iceland's highest cataract which, because of the intensive erosion and undercutting at its base, can be viewed from behind ...

From Seljalandsfoss it was on to the mighty curtain waterfall at Skogarfoss....

...which obliged with a lovely display of mini rainbows ....

From raging torrents we moved on to water in its solid form and got up close to a glacier - the Solheimajokull. This was the first experience for many of a glacier at close quarters and it was only possible to understand the scale when we spotted these people (centre left) walking on it......

We had lunch last Saturday sitting on a lateral moraine! After which, we headed in closer......to see ice in action where ice meets rock and plucks away at the valley side.

Sadly, the Solheimajokull, like many glaciers around the world, is receding as a result of global warming . Here is some evidence.

Firstly the snout in August 2004 photographed on on my first visit to Iceland.... and below, a similar view taken last week ... Our last visit of the day was to the south coast near Vik (Iceland's wettest town) where, apart from a bit of retail therapy, we looked at some evidence of coastal erosion.... .. before heading back to Hvollsvollur swimming pool near to Husid for our now customary wallow. A watery end to a watery day!!

And finally, this posting is something of a milestone since it is the 100th posting on the Iceland blog.