Diamond geysers, bubbling mud pools and steaming lakes are exciting sights to see on this New Scientist tour of Iceland.

Sean Thomas learns about the island's "unique geology, history and ecology." During the trip, he visits the Strokkur geyser, which erupts about every 10 minutes. READ MORE: I spent 17 years photographing the same grizzly bear family
By Sean Thomas for the Sunday Mail
Published: 2:59 p.m. BST, October 9, 2023 | Updated: 2:03 p.m. BST, 13 October 2023

We are in the middle of a vast plain of jagged, gray and green lava rocks, standing at- above kilometers-long wounds in the earth's crust, where two continents – Europe and America – are slowly tearing each other apart.
And I am right next to the world's oldest parliament, dating back to 930, listen to a tale of witches boiling.
If that sounds a little too dramatic, that’s because it is. This is Thingvellir, a huge natural amphitheater full of roaring volcanoes, bubbling mud pools and steaming lakes (hence the witches), in the far southwest of Iceland, about an hour from the capital, Reykjavik.
< p class="mol-para-with-font">I am familiar with the geology, history and ecology of this unique island, and am already learning that while Iceland comes with a touch of flamboyant terror – and that includes the price of alcohol (top tip: buy your booze from the government without a license).
From Thingvellir we head towards Geysir. This is the original “geyser”, although nowadays it is Geysir’s sister, Strokkur, which delights tourists. Every ten minutes or so, it erupts in fountains of hot steam and liquid.

Travel Oct 14, 2023 0 25 Add to Reading List

Diamond geysers, bubbling mud pools and steaming lakes are exciting sights to see on this New Scientist tour of Iceland.

Sean Thomas learns about the island's "unique geology, history and ecology." During the trip, he visits the Strokkur geyser, which erupts about every 10 minutes. READ MORE: I spent 17 years photographing the same grizzly bear family

By Sean Thomas for the Sunday Mail

Published: 2:59 p.m. BST, October 9, 2023 | Updated: 2:03 p.m. BST, 13 October 2023

We are in the middle of a vast plain of jagged, gray and green lava rocks, standing at- above kilometers-long wounds in the earth's crust, where two continents – Europe and America – are slowly tearing each other apart.

And I am right next to the world's oldest parliament, dating back to 930, listen to a tale of witches boiling.

If that sounds a little too dramatic, that’s because it is. This is Thingvellir, a huge natural amphitheater full of roaring volcanoes, bubbling mud pools and steaming lakes (hence the witches), in the far southwest of Iceland, about an hour from the capital, Reykjavik.

< p class="mol-para-with-font">I am familiar with the geology, history and ecology of this unique island, and am already learning that while Iceland comes with a touch of flamboyant terror – and that includes the price of alcohol (top tip: buy your booze from the government without a license).

From Thingvellir we head towards Geysir. This is the original “geyser”, although nowadays it is Geysir’s sister, Strokkur, which delights tourists. Every ten minutes or so, it erupts in fountains of hot steam and liquid.