Danger Power Plant

FAMOUS TOUR RIGHT at the north end zone of fracture is Myvatn, a lake known for its diversity of shallow water bird species (including 25 species of duck) and geological uniqueness: the fracture contains hot springs that can swim; Hverfjall ash crater, formed by a single eruption; Dimmuborgir , aka Dark Castle, tangled maze of volcanic rocks and 'pseudocraters, "bursts of water vapor from the molten lava. This lake also has a spa which utilizes geothermal, Myvatn Nature Baths, a mini version of the Blue Lagoon spa.

I want to explore the area to the north, where there Krafla volcano whose existence is threatened by a network of geothermal power plants are built nearby in the 1970s. One volcanic eruption, leaving fissures. Magma out of the other hole. Over the years, "Krafla Fires" spewing its contents. During a visit in 1981, I explored a layer of black lava (remind me to check the shoes).

Three decades passed and lava ... it's still the same! Black. now, we crossed it. Lava flows covering the grassy valley, "As someone paved landscape," Sally said, "and walked away." Apparently it took decades, even centuries until the moss and grass here can breed.

Operating geothermal power enough good here and worth a look. There is a jeep track to the area on the northern tip nicknamed Gjastykki, but the area was closed, waiting for the declaration of a geothermal power plant proposed by Omar. Gjastykki is parallel cracks where you can find out how on earth to form new crack.

"But you can not come before the place is equipped wells, pipelines and power lines," Omar complained. "It makes no sense!"

People like Omar and Bjork have run out of patience. "You can make a lot of money to develop tourism," a geologist argued. Should Gjastykki used for industry or preserved as a world heritage site? So this is debatable.

Among Glaciers

UPHILL CONSTANTLY paved roads to agricultural areas in the south. From the top of a pick-up capacity of 4 people, we see the vegetation thinning, shrinking agricultural land, the land dried up, and the sky seemed closer horizon away. In 40 minutes we move from the countryside to the cozy Highlands, is uninhabited and barren. F26 replaced with asphalt roads, or paths Sprengisandur, which parallel the crack zone. Unpaved road dust is large enough to pass two vehicles and only opened in the summer.

You can go through the pathways along nearly 200 miles in a day, as long as the weather and water levels permitting. Several hours passed, it seems glacier Hofsjokull meets the horizon on the west side, as well as several mountain peaks. “I've climbed that it, and that was years ago," Inga, mountaineers senior, said. "Glaciers melting," he added. We passed through one corner of the largest national parks in Europe, Vatmajokull. Same name for the glacier here, also the largest in Europe. At the heart buried beneath the caldera.

Under Vatmajokull, tendrils flood-magma-Formatting a hot spot volcano Grimsvotn, that erupted in 1966, 1998, and 2004. The last eruption was 152 m melt ice in an hour and spewing ash that reached Finland. Some geologists reveal areas that may destroy in part the earth's crust as nails destroy weathered wooden planks. If there is a point that separates Europe and North America, it's here.

In the summer season, the sun still lit up at six o'clock, as we descended the valley Krokdalur. We admired the series of waterfalls formed by glaciers. Back to the asphalt road. As evening approached, we arrived at the inn near a charming north coast Husavik, which is the area to see the whales. Husavik economy now depends on the people who are interested in seeing whales in the open sea NDI their dinner plates.

ISLANDS source of fire

WE GET TO the south side, where there are gaps that later gave rise to land just off the coast. We follow a line along the excavation through the confines of dust (tephra) on Heimaey, the main island in the Westman Islands, on the south coast of Iceland. Rounded the corner, we see things puih poking around the corner. It is a terraced roof.

The place is nicknamed "Pompei of the North." A sign bearing the name of the family who lived here before January 23, 1973, when the fracture Vestmannaeyjar devastated port city. Fortunately, sedan fleet anchored, when molten lava to spread further, evacuation efforts amounted to 5300 lives could be implemented in a matter of hours. Arni tells us how his friend Johann Johanson recalled that eruption. "He was 12 years old when it happened. On the day of the evacuation, the mother forced the family to flee to finish breakfast before the ship. Ah, the Iceland! Sure eruptions can wait while you finish oatmeal.

The eruption formed a new mountain and devastated 300 homes. Battalion seek vessels using stem the lava tube, and presumably their efforts succeed. Lava flows caught before reaching the port, although many houses collapsed, unable to resist his thick ash.

When I first came here in the summer of 1973, a new eruption ended, the ash still covered the slopes. Yet there are people who come back, but the workers and international volunteers have cleared the whole town. The announcement echoed in Reykjavik Airport warned travelers Heimaey if you want to walk on the black lava to use anti-fire footwear. At that time, local tour guide took me to a house two-thirds share of ash buried. With great difficulty we climbed to reach the upstairs window, broke through the bedroom.  "This is the door leading downstairs," he said, and we opened it. Hot humid air that wafted. Vapor granules that meet the ceiling fell. He shut the door.

Now, 39 years later, we enjoyed lunch at the cafe Kro, where tourists from Reykjavik for the weekend and watch the movie-documentary about the history of past eruptions. To me, it seemed just yesterday.

In 1974, local residents take advantage of lava to warm up the whole town had just recovered. Now, meet the needs of geothermal heat and hot water for 92% of the building. A first-time travelers to Reykjavik told me after he defecated in the toilet:  "One of the taps were connected to the glacier and the other to hell." Reykjavik also warms most streets and sidewalks. In 1980, geothermal power plant was built 47 km on the Reykjanes peninsula. Later this became the Blue lagoon spa, superior tourist-packed with people who like to soak in mineral water colored cobalt. But geothermal power, which I think is the most secure new energy, even sparked debate. After the economic crisis in 2008, when the currency kronur dropped by 76% against the dollar, the leaders of this country too willing-will, according to some people trade two Icelandic natural resources, fish and energy. The third source is the natural scenery that attracts tourists. And it sparked controversy.

On the way back to our friend's cottage, I read the English-language biweekly tabloid, Reykjavik Grapevine, yagn contains letters to the debate surrounding the geothermal plant. Merke involved debate among other singers Björk and Ross Beaty, CEO of Magma Energy Corp., Company-owned geothermal Canada. The company has signed a contract with the government, according to Beaty, will be very profitable. Bjork said the geothermal landscape will hurt, and gave off a lot of volcanic gases into the air. I remember Omar saying about geothermal cracks which be built in the north. That's our next goal.