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Exploring Iceland

Exploring Iceland
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Exploring Iceland | History, Nature & Magic!

Exploring Iceland is a video project showcasing some of Iceland’s famous and noteworthy sights, delving into history, folklore, science, witchcraft, and more! Learn about more than a thousand years of human history on this remote North Atlantic island, as well as the unique natural history of the land of fire and ice! 

Full video will be available July 3, 2024 at 9:00am (MT)!

Below are some of the extra photos and notes from my trip in October. Enjoy!

Hallgrímskirkja

Hallgrímskirkja is an Evangelical-Lutheran church in the heart of Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík. The church was designed by famous Icelandic architect Guðjon Samuelsson, and it’s meant to resemble Iceland’s basalt cliffs. This church is a marvel, once can’t help but be moved when standing beside or within the stark and towering monolith. 

Þingvellir National Park

Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park is spectacular on so many levels. It’s a rift valley, which means that the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling, ripping away from each other at Þingvellir – creating the stunning gorges and valleys throughout the region. Most rifts occur along the sea floor, in the depths away from view, but this is one of the few places on Earth where a rift can be seen and visited without a submarine (The Great Rift Valley in Africa is another). 

In addition to a fascinating natural history, Þingvellir is also a very important place for Iceland’s history and culture. Þingvellir is Icelandic for “Assembly Plains,” and it was here that Iceland’s parliament – the Alþing – convened annually from its establishment in 930 until 1798.

The Alþing was far more than a mere meeting for government. Icelandic Sagas mention beer brewers, food sellers, sword sharpeners and even clowns congregating. The area became a temporary capital of the country during the Alþing, and in many ways Þingvellir laid the foundation for Icelandic culture, language and literature.

Þingvellir National Park. Here a large canyon has formed as the two pieces of earth slowly move away from one another.

Westfjords

The Westfjords in are Iceland’s least populated and least visited region, but it is home to breathtaking and pristine, untouched wilderness. The drive takes you along Iceland’s northwest coast, and meanders in and out of stunning fjords along the way.

One interesting building I came across while in the Westfjords was this out-of-place castle, called Arngerðareyri. Trading began in the region in 1884, but the famous “castle”, known locally as Kastalinn, built in 1929 for a manager of a trading company. Who wouldn’t want to build themself a castle at the mouth of a remote, peaceful Icelandic fjord… I sure do!

One region in the Westfjords, Strandir, is famous for its long history of witchcraft. In addition to the wonderful and fascinating Holmavík Museum of Sorcery and Witchcraft (Which is a must-see if folklore and history are an interest!), there is also Kotbýli kuklarans, the Sorcerer’s Cottage. This turf house is a recreation of what a Sorcerer’s cottage might have looked like during the 17th century Icelandic witch hunts, and consists of 3 connected turf houses made from stones and driftwood according to traditional methods. 

People in Iceland have lived in turf houses since the island was settled around the year 874CE, and the practice continued until 1966. Inside this turf house one can find different objects, reproductions of what might have been in an Icelander’s home 400 years ago. A hearth for cooking (and perhaps concocting potions?). Seal pelts and sheep skins for bedding to keep warm on the cold Arctic nights. Bones from whales and livestock animals, which bored children once pretended were animals or whatever else they could imagine.

 

Waterfalls

Iceland is famous for its many gorge-ous waterfalls. Of the thousands of waterfalls in the country, I visited three of the more well-known ones: Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss, and Skógafoss

Water plummeting over the 21 metre edge of Gullfoss' second falls.
Gullfoss from the trailhead.
Birds-eye view of Gullfoss.
Langjökull, the glacier that feeds Gullfoss.
Seljalandsfoss is a 60 metre tall waterfall along Iceland's south coast, and one of the only waterfalls in the world you can walk behind!
Skógafoss is 62 metres tall and is found along the same set of cliffs as Seljalandsfoss.

Disclaimers and Notes:

  •  All images in the blog post are mine. Most of the footage used in the video was captured on a trip to Iceland in October 2023, all other images are credited at the bottom of the page.
  • Why did I include International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) in my video: I like it.

Citations:

  1. “Welcome to Hallgrímskirkja.” (N.D). Hallgrímskirkja. https://www.hallgrimskirkja.is/en. Accessed April 26, 2024.
  2. “Hallgrímskirkja church.” (N.D.). Visit Reykjavik. https://visitreykjavik.is/service/hallgrimskirkja-church. Accessed April 26, 2024
  3. “Hallgrímskirkja: A tribute to all that is Iceland.” (N.D.). Your Friend in Reykjavík. https://yourfriendinreykjavik.com/hallgrimskirkja-a-tribute-to-all-that-is-iceland/ Accessed April 26, 2024.
  4. “Hallgrímskirkja: The Reykjavik Church.” (2021). Iceland Dream. https://www.iceland-dream.com/guide/west/reykjavik/hallgrimskirkja. Accessed April 26, 2024.
  5. Ramon, C. (2017). “Traditional Designs of Lutheran Churches.” Classroom. https://classroom.synonym.com/traditional-designs-of-lutheran-churches-12086526.html#google_vignette. Accessed April 26, 2024.
  6. Wallace, B. (2018). “Leif Eriksson.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/leif-ericsson. Accessed April 26, 2024.
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  8. “Our Story.” (N.D.). Blue Lagoon Iceland. https://www.bluelagoon.com/about/our-story. Accessed April 26, 2024.
  9. “History.” (N.D.). Héraðsskólinn Historic Guesthouse. https://heradsskolinn.is/history/. Accessed April 27, 2024.
  10. “Lögberg – Law Rock.” (N.D.). Thingvellir National Park. https://www.thingvellir.is/en/education/history/loegberg-law-rock/. Accessed April 27, 2024.
  11. “Centre of Social Life.” (N.D.). Thingvellir National Park. https://www.thingvellir.is/en/education/history/centre-of-social-life/. Accessed April 27, 2024.
  12. “Thingvellir National Park.” (N.D.). Visit Iceland. https://www.visiticeland.com/article/thingvellir. Accessed April 27, 2024.
  13. “Þingvellir National Park.” (2011). UNESCO World Heritage Convention. https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5588/. Accessed April 27, 2024.
  14. “Christianity.” (N.D.). Thingvellir National Park. https://www.thingvellir.is/en/education/history/christianity/. Accessed April 27, 2024.
  15. Sign at Thingvellir National Park. (N.D.). Thingvellir National Park, Iceland. 
  16. “History of Gullfoss.” (N.D.). Gullfoss. https://gullfoss.is/history-of-gullfoss/. Accessed April 27, 2024.
  17. “Gullfoss waterfall.” (N.D.). Visit South Iceland. https://www.south.is/en/place/gullfoss-waterfall. Accessed April 27, 2024.
  18.  “The Mighty Geyser.” (N.D.). Guide to Iceland. https://guidetoiceland.is/travel-iceland/drive/strokkur Accessed April 27, 2024.
  19. Ragnasdóttir, R. (N.D.). “The spectacular Geysir Geothermal Area – Strokkur and all the other Hot Springs.” Guide to Iceland. https://guidetoiceland.is/connect-with-locals/regina/the-extraordinary-geysir-geothermal-area-strokkur-and-all-the-other-hot-pots-in-south-iceland. Accessed April 27, 2024.
  20. “Geysir Iceland Travel Guide.” (N.D.). Iceland Like a Local. https://www.iceland-like-a-local.com/travel-guide/what-to-do/geysir#:~:text=%E2%80%93%20Not%20far%20from%20here%20is,the%20silica%20within%20the%20water. Accessed April 27, 2024.
  21. “The Regions – The Westfjords.” (N.D.). Visit Iceland. https://www.visiticeland.com/the-regions/the-westfjords. Accessed April 27, 2024.
  22. “Historical Context.” (N.D.). Galdradýningin á Holmavík. https://galdrasyning.is/en/annalar/. Accessed April 27, 2024.
  23. “Magical Staves.” (N.D.). Galdradýningin á Holmavík. https://galdrasyning.is/en/galdrastafir/. Accessed April 29, 2024.
  24. “Grimoires.” (N.D.). Galdradýningin á Holmavík. https://galdrasyning.is/en/galdraskraedur/. Accessed April 29, 2024.
  25. Ragnasdóttir, R. (N.D.). “A List of the beautiful Icelandic Turf Houses I have visited on my Travels in Iceland.” Guide to Iceland. https://guidetoiceland.is/connect-with-locals/regina/a-list-of-the-beautiful-icelandic-turf-houses-the-inheritance-of-generations-past. Accessed April 29, 2024.
  26. Rafnsson, M. (2021). “Tvær galdraskræður – Two Icelandic Books of Magic.” Galdradýningin á Holmavík. ISBN: 978-9979-9584-5-1 (Available for purchase HERE). Accessed May 20, 2024.
  27. Koeijer, B. (N.D.). “Witch hunts and the intersections of gender, age and class: A feminist analysis on the Western European witch hunts in the 16th and 17th century.” Linköping University. https://liu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1677355/FULLTEXT01.pdf. Accessed May 8, 2024. 
  28. Kayata, E. (2023). “What really happened during the Salem witch trials? Experts debunk five common misconceptions.” Northeastern Global News. https://news.northeastern.edu/2023/10/18/salem-witch-trials-history-truth/ Accessed May 20, 2024.
  29. Durant, J. (2008) “Rowlands on Durrant, ‘Witchcraft, Gender and Society in Early Modern Germany.”’ H-HRE. https://networks.h-net.org/node/15337/reviews/15448/rowlands-durrant-witchcraft-gender-and-society-early-modern-germany#:~:text=The%20majority%20(80%20to%2085,hunts%20as%20a%20whole%20(p. Accessed May 20, 2024.
  30. Stringer, M. (2015). “A War on Women? The Malleus Maleficarum and the Witch-Hunts in Early Modern Europe.” University of Mississippi eGrove. https://egrove.olemiss.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1722&context=hon_thesis  Accessed May 20, 2024. 
  31. “Witch-hunts in Iceland.” (N.D.).  Galdradýningin á Holmavík https://galdrasyning.is/en/galdrasagan/. Accessed May 8, 2024. 
  32. Lewsey, F. (2023). “Witchcraft accusations were an ‘occupational hazard’ for female workers in early modern England.”  University of Cambridge. https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/witchcraft-work-women Accessed May 20, 2024.
  33. Marshall, B. (2019). “Most witches were women, because witch hunts were all about persecuting the powerless.” The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/most-witches-are-women-because-witch-hunts-were-all-about-persecuting-the-powerless-125427#:~:text=Across%20New%20England%2C%20where%20witch,in%20New%20England%20were%20female. Accessed May 20, 2024.
  34. “A True Legal Horror Story: The Laws Leading to the Salem Witch Trials.” (N.D.).  New England Law – Boston. https://www.nesl.edu/blog/detail/a-true-legal-horror-story-the-laws-leading-to-the-salem-witch-trials#:~:text=Evidence%20points%20to%20several%20factors,Town%2C%20and%20the%20simmering%20tensions Accessed May 20, 2024.
  35. Lewis, I., et. al. (2024). “Witchcraft – Witch Hunts, Superstition, Persecution.” Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/witchcraft/The-witch-hunts Accessed May 20, 2024.
  36. “Early Modern witch trials.” (N.D.). The National Archives. https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/early-modern-witch-trials/#:~:text=Somebody%20new%20to%20a%20community,looked%20to%20find%20a%20cause. Accessed May 20, 2024.
  37. “What sort of people were accused of being witches?” (N.D.). BBC Bite Size. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z9y7m39#z48nydm Accessed May 20, 2024.
  38. “Guðjon Samuelsson.” (N.D.). Architectuul. https://architectuul.com/architect/gudjon-samuelsson#:~:text=Notable%20designs%20include%20main%20building,which%20was%20commissioned%20in%201937. Accessed June 5, 2024.
  39. Ragnarsdóttir, R. (N.D.). “The Mystical Sorcerer’s Cottage in Bjarnarfjörður in the Westfjords Region – Kotýli kuklarans.” Guide to Iceland. https://guidetoiceland.is/connect-with-locals/regina/the-mystical-sorcerer-s-cottage-in-bjarnarfjordur-in-the-westfjords-of-iceland Accessed May 3, 2024.
  40. Ragnasdóttir, R. (N.D.). “The Old Tradition of Creating Stone Cairns in Iceland.” Guide to Iceland. https://guidetoiceland.is/connect-with-locals/regina/the-old-tradition-of-creating-stone-cairns-in-iceland-1. Accessed May 3, 2024.
  41. “Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi.” (N.D.). Katla Geopark. https://www.katlageopark.com/geosites/mainly-geology/seljalandsfoss-and-gljufrabui/. Accessed May 4, 2024.
  42. “Steinahellir.” (N.D.). Katla Geopark. https://www.katlageopark.com/geosites/geology-culture/steinahellir/. Accessed May 4, 2024.
  43. “Steinahellir Cave.” (N.D.). Fun Iceland. https://www.funiceland.is/nature/caves/steinahellir/. Accessed May 4, 2024.
  44. “Skógafoss.” (N.D.). Katla Geopark. https://www.katlageopark.com/geosites/geology-culture/skogafoss/. Accessed May 4, 2024.

Image Credits (in video):

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