South Iceland
South Iceland is the most visited region of Iceland outside of the capital area, and for good reason: it embodies the nickname "Land of Fire and Ice".
Here you will find two of Iceland’s most active volcanoes: Mt. Hekla, which has erupted about 20 times in Icelandic history, and Mt. Katla, which is almost as active. Of course, this is also the home of the tongue-twisting Eyjafjallajökull volcano, which created a spectacular media buzz (and a bit of travel disruption) in 2010! And just off the coast lie the volcanic Westman Islands, accessible by ferry, where Iceland's newest landmass, the island of Surtsey, was formed in an under-sea eruption in the 1960s.
As for the "ice" part, South Iceland serves as a gateway to some of of Iceland's largest glaciers, namely Vatnajökull and Mýrdalsjökull. Skaftafell, part of Vatnajökull National Park, has a wonderful visitor centre with information about this remarkable natural environment, while at Höfn in Hornafjörður there is an interesting glacier exhibition. For those who want a close-up, boat tours among the icebergs are available in summer at the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and there are many guided tours on the glaciers. Please always go with a professional guide on glaciers!
But the region has many other attractions: black sand beaches and puffin nesting cliffs by Vík; delicious lobster dinners at seaside restaurants; idyllic green farmlands; powerful glacial rivers; magnificent waterfalls like Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss; and several geothermal areas, where fruits and vegetables are grown year-round in greenhouses heated by the abundant hot springs.The best known hot spring is Geysir, from which the English word “geyser” is derived.
Geysir, along with Gullfoss, the Kerið crater and Þingvellir National Park, make up the "Golden Circle" route, by far the most popular day tour in all of Iceland. Besides the impressive natural beauty, this route is prized for its cultural and historical sites, including the ancient assembly grounds of Iceland's Parliament – the world' oldest – at Þingvellir, set in the rift valley of the Eurasion and North American tectonic plates.
In South Iceland, history echoes in every footstep: this was the setting of the Saga of Njáll, one of the most famous Icelandic sagas, which you can learn more about at the Icelandic Saga Centre in Hvolsvöllur. Other museums in the region include the the Skógar Folk Museum with its well-preserved turf houses and the Ghost Centre at Stokkseyri, a unique exhibition dedicated to the Icelandic spirit world.
Visitors to this region can experience the diverse natural landscapes through such activities as horseback riding, hiking, bird watching, diving or snorkeling, white-water rafting, glacier walks, snowmobile safaris, super-jeep tours or boat/ferry rides, just to name a few.
