Attractions
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This landmark church, the tallest building in Iceland,
dominates the city from its highest point and is visible on a sunny
day from up to 10 miles (16km) away. Named after 17th century
Icelandic poet, hymn composer and clergyman, Hallrimur Petursson,
the church's unusual design represents volcanic basalt columns
flanking its towering steeple. It took nearly 40 years to build the
edifice, which was finally completed in 1986. In front of the
church stands a statue of Leif Eriksson, donated to Iceland by the
United States.
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The recently refurbished National Museum of Iceland is
the best place to become acquainted with the folklore, history and
culture of this fascinating nation. The museum contains around
3,000 artefacts, including medieval settlers' tools, agricultural
and nautical implements, ancient carvings and Viking
relics.
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The lush, green Botanical Gardens are a haven for
strollers and planted with a large collection of Icelandic
indigenous plants. Besides walking trails and water features, the
gardens have a greenhouse café open during the summer months, a
children's park and a zoo.
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Einar Jónsson was Iceland's foremost sculptor and he
himself designed and established this museum, which contains
several hundred of his works spanning his 60-year career. The
museum building itself is deemed to be Jónsson's largest work, and
served as his home, gallery and studio. The foundation stone was
laid in 1916; it was Iceland's first art museum and retains pride
of place on the highest point in Reykjavik. It is adjoined by a
pristine treed sculpture garden, which sports 26 bronze casts of
the artist's work. There is also a museum shop selling plaster
casts of Jónsson's works, books and postcards.
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A favourite and unique attraction close to Reykjavik,
about 30 miles (50km) south west of the city, is the man-made
geothermal 'Blue Lagoon', set in a lava field, filled with
mineral-rich hot water pumped from about a mile below the surface.
The lagoon is flanked by a luxurious health spa where visitors come
to be pampered and treated for skin ailments like eczema and
psoriasis. The lagoon's surreal phosphorescent aquamarine colour is
caused by the therapeutic ecosystem of algae, silica and minerals
in the water.
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Iceland's famed Gullfoss (Golden) Falls are justly
rated among the most beautiful in the world and make for a popular
day trip from Reykjavik. The falls, with their awesome
double-cascade, are incredibly powerful which has meant they have
come under threat of being utilised as a source of
hydro-electricity. Currently, however, the fantastic vista of the
falls, shrouded in mist and rainbows, gushing into a canyon on the
Hvita River, are safely ensconced in a national park and remain one
of the country's top tourist attractions.
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The weird landscape of the Haukadalur valley in
Iceland's southern lowlands, where hot springs spout and mud pots
bubble, has been dominated for centuries by the 'granddaddy' of all
geysers, the Great Geysir, from which all other such phenomena
around the world have gained their name. The Geysir, once shooting
boiling water hundreds of feet into the air, has reduced its
performance levels somewhat in modern times, but is nevertheless
still an impressive sight when it occasionally erupts. The rest of
the thermal area, bathed in a sulphuric smell, is just as
fascinating, featuring several other spouting vents and geysers
which frequently display their prowess. The Geysir area has become
a great tourist attraction and a centre has been opened containing
a multi-media geology museum and folklore exhibits. There is also a
hotel, souvenir shop and restaurant on site.
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The national park of Thingvellir, 30 miles (50km) east
of Reykjavik, is not only Iceland's most important historic site,
but also a place of natural and geological wonder. It was here that
the world's first ever parliament, the Alting, first convened in
AD930, and where Christianity was first introduced to Iceland. Even
today people gather at Thingvellir to celebrate any major national
event. Geologically this is the only site in the world where the
American and European tectonic plates are visible; there is also
the largest lake in Iceland, and stunning scenery including a lava
gorge, the Oxararfoss waterfall, and the 'Money Chasm' filled with
spring water where visitors drop coins into the water to witness
the strange distorted reflections that result.
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