We enjoyed a packed day today, beginning with a tour of the natural wonders around Lake Myvatn in northern Iceland and ending with a visit to the Arctic Circle. In the morning, we toured the striking geological attractions of the region with stops at a magnificent waterfall, an eerie lava maze, and a pungent and colorful thermal field. After a lunch with a view from the recently constructed Foss Hotel, overlooking Lake Myvatn, we climbed to the top of a volcanic ash crater. After a spectacular dinner on board, and under the light of a midnight sun, National Geographic Explorer visited the island of Grimsey, which touches the Arctic Circle.
7/16/2024
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National Geographic Endurance
Heimaey, Iceland
We began the day with a circumnavigation of Surtsey, the newest island in the Vestmannaeyjar Archipelago. This small desolate volcano captured the world’s attention in 1963 when it erupted without warning from the seafloor off the southeast coast of Iceland. From there we sailed north to Heimaey, or “home island”, where we disembarked and toured the area via coach or on foot. The more energetic folks climbed Eldfell, the volcano that nearly consumed the town and forced its evacuation during an eruption in 1973. Regardless of our choice of activities, all guests visited the Eldheimar Museum that records, preserves, and brilliantly commemorates the eruption that prompted the evacuation and destroyed nearly half of the homes in town. The devastation took one life but did have a significant and positive long-term impact. By fighting the lava flow with cooling water cannons, the townspeople halted its advance and improved the safety of the harbor.