Natural Wonders
Nature the Way Nature Made It
Much of Iceland is still taking shape before your very eyes — raw, dramatic landscapes born from volcanic eruptions and carved out by glaciers. Other parts have hardly changed since the first Viking settlers saw them more than 1,100 years ago. You’ll experience wilderness and wildlife, energy and total calm, within easy reach wherever you stay, even on day trips.
Glaciers
including Europe’s largest (Vatnajökull, 8,000 km2)
Waterfalls,
fantastic fjords and romantic shores
Clean air and clean water
thanks to pure and renewable energy resources
Hot springs
from colourful steaming fields to the spouting springs of Geysir
Walking, hiking, trekking
through countless scenic worlds
Bizarre lava landscapes
from “Trolls’ Cathedrals” to terrain where US astronauts rehearsed for walking on the moon
Bird watching
— some of the world’s biggest colonies of puffin and other seabirds, plus a rich blend of European and American species
Midnight sun
Amazing light throughout the night in summer
Whales
astonishing success rates for sightings
Central Highlands
uninhabited, uninhabitable and unforgettable
Northern lights
set the winter skies ablaze with colour
... and endless surprises besides
Culture and Heritage
Icelanders are proud that they still speak the ancient language of the vikings, but they certainly don´t just live in the past. Their cherished ancient heritage lives on in harmony with the most exciting innovations from the world of arts and cultue today. This refreshing mix of local, traditional, progressive and cosmopolitan culture appeals to almost every taste.
Music and song
— the whole scale from
the Iceland Symphony
Orchestra to Björk
Colourful festivals
and theme exhibitions
bring local history to life
around the country
International and home artists
with dozens of exhibitions at museums and
galleries every month
International film and short film festivals
and a thriving film industry
Vikings, Sagas and folklore
festivals, exhibitions
and events that take you
right into the Icelandic
heart and soul
Volcano exhibitions and shows
learn how nature lets
off steam — and how man
has learnt to live with it
Mid-Atlantic music venue
when major bands visit
Iceland, audiences flock
in from both sides of
the Atlantic
Nightlife and entertainment
in a league of its own
Supreme cuisine
Culinary art in the form
of ocean-fresh seafood, highland lamb, game and traditional delicacies
Handicrafts
from centuries-old
skills to lava ceramics
Mother Nature’s
own artwork
in landscapes where the imagination runs riot
National Parks
Enjoy our nature
A protected area is not a piece of land that we're not allowed to enjoy. On the contrary. A protected area is defined as an area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources. By declaring an area protected, we secure our and later generations' right to enjoy unspoilt nature. Protected areas can be expected to be of special interest to tourists, as they are Iceland's main natural treasures. Therefore, tourists are encouraged to visit protected areas and enjoy what they have to offer while complying with the rules that apply to them.
Four National Parks
Visitors come to experience Icelandic nature, to enjoy its beauty and to learn from it. National Parks demonstrate and awaken respect for the environment. The role of National Park staff is to provide information to Park visitors. In teaching young people to respect the environment, we are laying the foundation for broader respect, tolerance and sensitivity towards our planet. Environment and Food Agency of Iceland mandates National Parks and other protected areas in Iceland.
There are now four National Parks around the country, each with its own particular points of interest.
Thingvellir, “Symbol of the Icelandic Consciousness”, is in a rift valley between the American and European geological plates and Lake Thingvellir contains species of fish found nowhere else.
Snaefellsjökull National Park is at the foot of a volcano and glacier, and is steeped in mystery and romance; it is the only Park that reaches from the seashore to the mountaintops.
Jökulsárgljúfur National Park has been formed by the torrents gushing down from the Vatnajökull glacier and it contains Dettifoss, the largest waterfall in Europe.
Skaftafell National Park is in an area also affected by catastrophic floods (Jökulhlaup) from the Vatnajökull glacier, but here visitors find a green oasis among barren sands spewed out from beneath the ice.
Other categories of protected areas
Other categories of protected areas according to the nature conservation act are Nature Reserve that are areas protected for its importance for wildlife (flora and fauna) and landscape, Natural Monuments that are areas protected due to special geological formations e.g. volcanoes, fossils, minerals, waterfalls etc, Country Parks that are areas first and foremost protected for its importance for outdoor recreation and finally a category for habitats, ecosystems and species. In Iceland there are 31 plants protected according to the nature conservation act – the protection is under revision in connection to recently published red list for plants.
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