#Vatnajökull National Park

[pangeen]

" Skaftafell " //© Vincenzo Mazza

[noordinarysunset]

Breiðamerkurjökull Outlet glacier of Vatnajökull

Vatnajökull National Park Iceland

[dopescissorscashwagon]

The Beautiful Svartifoss in Iceland 📍 Who’s visited this waterfall before? 🇮🇸 By #todayiniceland

[arbron]

Hafragilsfoss Valley

[streamingthruamerica]

Water and Ice, Part Two

Water and Ice, Part Two

Imagine an aquatic gallery of ephemeral ice sculptures in varying shapes, sizes and shades of blue, dancing around a glacial lagoon before floating out to sea or washing upon a black, sandy beach. After our hike at Skaftafell, Leah and I were expected at Jökulsárlón for a late afternoon amphibian boat tour of the glacial lagoon, but not before a required stopover at Fjallsárlón for a dramatic…

[paramedicabroad]

Vatnajökull National park

Let's embark on a virtual journey to one of Iceland's most mesmerizing destinations—the Vatnajökull National Park. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, Vatnajökull beckons you to delve into its ethereal landscapes, where glaciers, volcanoes, and otherworldly vistas await.

Marvel at the awe-inspiring majesty of Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier, as it dominates the park's vast expanse. Witness the glacial tongues, ice caves, and surreal ice formations that adorn its icy surface, offering a glimpse into the raw power of nature.

Explore the dynamic landscapes of Vatnajökull National Park, where glaciers and volcanoes converge in a symphony of contrasts. From the towering peaks of Öræfajökull to the fiery depths of Grimsvötn volcano, the park's diverse terrain is a testament to Iceland's geological wonders.

Embark on a virtual adventure to Skaftafell, a verdant oasis nestled amidst Vatnajökull's icy embrace. Explore hiking trails that wind through lush forests, cascade down waterfalls, and offer panoramic views of the surrounding glaciers—a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.

Marvel at the ethereal beauty of Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon where icebergs drift serenely amidst the backdrop of towering peaks. Let the shimmering blue hues of the ice and the haunting calls of seabirds captivate your senses as you immerse yourself in this surreal Arctic landscape.

Step into the magical realm of the Skaftafell Ice Cave, where walls of glacial ice reveal nature's artistry in its purest form. Traverse crystal-clear corridors, marvel at intricate ice formations, and witness the interplay of light and shadow that dances across the icy surfaces.

Discover the resilience of Iceland's wildlife as it thrives amidst Vatnajökull's unforgiving landscapes. From Arctic foxes to reindeer, the park's diverse ecosystems provide sanctuary for a myriad of species, offering glimpses of Iceland's untamed wilderness.

Embark on a digital exploration of Vatnajökull National Park through virtual tours, interactive exhibits, and immersive experiences. Engage with online resources that bring the park's natural beauty and cultural heritage to life, offering a glimpse into Iceland's timeless landscapes.

In conclusion, Vatnajökull National Park invites you to embark on a virtual odyssey through Iceland's glacial wonders and volcanic landscapes. When you're ready to immerse yourself in the majesty of nature and adventure, Vatnajökull eagerly awaits your virtual presence. 🏔️❄️🇮🇸

[runwayrunway]

No. 24 - Icelandair's Special Liveries

Congratulations to Icelandair's Hekla Aurora livery for being my first multi-request. And for a special livery, no less!

So, as a quick supplement to my main Icelandair post, I'm going to discuss the airline's three special liveries (excluding those which are crossovers with other brands). They've even been kind enough to provide a page for each, describing their various inspirations and how they relate to Icelandic identity.

Þingvellir

I'm starting with Þingvellir. Painted on a Boeing 757-300 registered TF-ISX, this livery was released in 2018 to celebrate 100 years of Icelandic independence and also something involving football, which in a very classic moment are treated as being equivalent in weight. I think Iceland may have won at the football? If you are aware of the context of the football, please don't tell me. I don't care about football.

Her colors are drawn from the Icelandic flag. It's really incredible how many flags out there manage to be red, white, and blue. It's honestly a kindness on Icelandair's part to not have those colors dominate their livery to begin with because it's incredibly saturated with flag carriers. (Red, white, and green are another similarly done-to-death scheme.)

Although I think the actual cross-shape of the flag could have been used to some decent effect, I have no real problem with where we ended up. I think this is recognizable as the Icelandic flag and visually pleasing. The first time I saw this I thought it was a heritage livery, because I didn't know off the top of my head what Icelandair's old liveries actually looked like. I think if they'd done this back in the day they would have been the talk of the tarmac.

Looking at it from the right angle, though, I can't deny that when you add in the glossy modern look of the Icelandair logo and the yellow nacelles it does sort of look like a football jersey somehow. Unsure if this is intentional, but all in all I just think this looks nice and I genuinely think if you did something about the yellow this would be a better standard livery for Icelandair than most airlines have. It's quite unique, as far as what's flying today.

Grade: C+

A few notes to close out: first, 'Þingvellir' is the name of the aircraft. Icelandair names all their planes after features of Icelandic nature, and Þingvellir is a national park known for being the site of parliamentary sessions. 'Þ' is pronounced roughly like 'th' in English.

Second, you may notice a distinct...how do I put this? Longness about her. This is because

('normal girl' here means 'narrow-body airliner'). image by @lobstersinmyhouse.

and I really like that.

Vatnajökull

Vatnajökull is a slightly less long but still delightful normal girl, a Boeing 757-200 with the registration TF-FIR. Icelandair bills her as the world's first flying glacier. I don't think there was much of a risk of anyone else getting that record, but she...sure is!

Vatnajökull is a fairly self-explanatory livery. It's an incredibly detailed glacier scene, representative of the very landmass for which the airplane is named. From Icelandair's website:

Even if you have lived in Iceland your whole life, the wonders of Vatnajökull never cease to amaze and enthrall. The largest glacier in Europe tumbles down the highest mountain ridge in Iceland, creating tremendous icefalls just above the southeast part of Route 1. The ice giant covers 8% of Iceland and is up to 1000 meters (3280 feet) thick. That equals 30 meters of ice evenly spread over all of Iceland – but we are in fact quite happy to keep it where it is. The Icelandic climate can be challenging enough without adding dozens of meters of ice on top of us.

It's actually somewhat difficult to find much more to say about her. This is just a very pretty glacial landscape drawn onto an airplane, and I think it looks very very nice.

This paint job is undeniably both pretty and impressive. I do sort of wish the tail and engines had been integrated as well, but what we got is more than alright.

Vatnajökull also features a glacier-themed interior, including glacier-themed headrests and drinks carts and, of course, some lovely blue mood lighting. The whole package makes me want to go potholing in a glacier very badly. They've definitely put a lot of effort into making the world's first flying glacier, and they've succeeded in that.

Grade: B

Hekla Aurora

It was very hard to choose pictures of this plane to include in this post. Hekla Aurora is stunning. She looks dramatically different depending on the lighting, but no matter which angle she's seen from she looks gorgeous and vivid.

Hekla Aurora is named for the active volcano Hekla and the aurora borealis, two noteworthy features of Iceland's unique natural environment. Obviously, though, she leans a bit towards the latter part of the name. The plane even comes with special interior mood lighting like Vatnajökull.

This looks so nice. It's even more striking than the simple blue Vatnajökull has. I want to fall asleep on this plane more than anything else in the world.

This plane is basically Icelandair's flagship. I swear this is one of the best-known planes flying right now. And she deserves every bit of it. This is a uniquely beautiful paint job and I am severely envious of anyone who has ever been able to fly on her.

I do, again, wish more had been done with the engines and the tail, but it's really hard to say anything about Hekla Aurora because this is just as much of an art piece as it is an airplane livery.

I have it as an active goal of mine to see her in person, even if from a distance, while she's still in service.

Grade: A

Unfortunately, this request was timely in the worst possible way. On the 7th of July, Icelandair announced their intention to acquire between 13 and 25 Airbus A321XLR airplanes. This is an interesting move from an airline which has up until now exclusively operated Boeing aircraft, but Boeing's refusal to actually build a 757 successor is a separate conversation. What's important to note is that Icelandair's special 757s are getting on in years. Hekla Aurora is nearly 30 years old. While far from derelict, that's definitely around the point most major airlines will begin to retire their planes. The confirmation of Icelandair's intentions to acquire a replacement model just makes it even clearer.

There is time to talk about what Icelandair will do going forward, what new special liveries they'll make. It's clear that all their existing ones are born from an appreciation for Iceland, and I'm sure they won't stop just because their planes are going to look a little different ten years from now. But It feels like an important time to voice my appreciation for TF-FIU, who has been bringing the northern lights everywhere Icelandair flies for nearly 10 years, even as those years finally begin to wind down.

[whatpandorasaw]

Traditional turf farmhouses at Skaftafell, Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland

[natures-moments]

Iceland, a Nordic island country, has a lush landscape, with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs and lava fields. Its immense glaciers are protected in the Vatnajökull and Snæfellsjökull national parks.

[live-the-fangirl-life]

i would love if you'd shared everything that might be in aelin's list in a world away, all the dream places she wants to go or already went 🤧🥺

First of all - I am so sorry it’s taken me so long to answer this ask 😭

Second - this list is in no way complete. I could probably double it if I gave it some more time (and maybe I’ll edit this post and add some later) but I wanted to answer this ask.

Third - some things listed are cities, some are attractions, some are landmarks or monuments…it’s really a mix of everything. And some major landmarks that cover more than one country are only listed once.

A World Away

So, without further ado, please enjoy

Aelin’s Incomplete and Ever-Adapting World Travel List ✈️

Antarctica

Argentina

Iguazú Falls // Patagonia // Rainbow Mountains // Buenos Aires

Australia

Melbourne // Sydney // Gold Coast // Great Barrier Reef // Adelaide

Austria

Vienna // Salzburg // Hallstatt

the Bahamas

Belgium

Bruges // Brussels

Belize

the Great Blue Hole

Bhutan

the Himalayas

Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Stari Most Bridge // Mostar

Brazil

Rio de Janeiro // Christ the Redeemer // Amazon Rainforest // Lençóis Maranhenses National Park // Sao Paolo

Bulgaria

Cambodia

Angkor Wat

Canada

Niagra Falls // Vancouver // Banff // Toronto

Chile

Easter Island // Torres del Paine National Park // Marble Caves

China

Great Wall of China // Beijing // Shanghai // the Summer Palace // Potala Palace // Tianmen Mountain // Reed Flute Caves // Zhanye Danxia

Costa Rica

San Jose

Croatia

Dalmatian Coast // Diocletian's Palace // Krka waterfall park // Plitvice Lakes // Zagreb

Cuba

Havana

Czech Republic

Prague

Denmark

Copenhagan

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

Quito // Galapagos Islands

Egypt

Cairo // The Great Pyramids & Sphinx // Nile River // Valley of the Kings // Luxor // Aswan

England

London // Thames River // Stonehenge

Estonia

Tallinn

Fiji

Finland

Helsinki

France

Mont-Saint-Michel // Louvre // Eiffel Tower // Alsace Lorraine // Paris // Notre Dame // Sacre Coeur // Versailles // Nice

French Polynesia

Bora Bora // Tahiti

Germany

Munich // Berlin // Black Forest // Oktoberfest // Neuschwanstein Castle

Greece

Santorini // Athens // Parthenon // Roman Agora // Acropolis // Mykonos // Oia // Fira // Corfu // Meteora

Greenland

Hong Kong

Tsim Sha Tsui

Hungary

Budapest // Capitol Hill // Bath Houses

Iceland

Reykjavik // Northern Lights // Egilsstaðir //Ring Road // Blue Lagoon // Vatnajökull National Park // Kirkjufell // Húsavík // Akureyri // Thingvellir National Park

Italy

Roman Colosseum // Amalfi Coast // Florence Duomo // Venice at Carnival // Piazzale Michelangelo // Cinque Terre // Pisa // Venice // Pompeii // Milan

India

Taj Mahal // Varanasi & Ganges River // Golden Temple // Agra // Mumbai // New Delhi

Indonesia

Bali // Komodo Island // Blue Flames at Ijen Volcano // Jarkarta

Iran

Hall of Diamonds

Ireland & Northern Ireland

Cliffs of Moher // Giants Causeway // Galway // Blarney Stone // Trinity College // O'Neills // Belfast // Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge // Cobh

Isreal

Dead Sea // Jerusalem

Jamaica

Japan

Tokyo // Mount Fuji // Wisteria Gardens // Osaka // Kyoto

Jordan

Petra // Amman

Kazakhstan

Kenya

Maasai Mara National Park // Lake Victoria

Kyrgyzstan

Luxembourg

Madagascar

Avenue of the Baobabs

Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur // Batu Caves

the Maldives

Male

Malta

Valletta

Mexico

Cabo // Teotihuacán // Chichen Itza // Cabo // Yucatan Peninsula // Mexico City

Mongolia

Gobi Desert

Morocco

Casablanca // Hassan II Mosque // Marrakesh // Chefchaouen // Sahara Desert

Myanmar

Bagan's Temples

Namibia

Nepal

Mount Everest // Kathmandu

the Netherlands

Amsterdam // Van Gogh Museum // Tulip Festival

New Zealand

Auckland // Queenstown // Kawarau Suspension Bridge // Milford Sound // Tongariro National Park // Hobbitton // Dark Sky Sanctuary // Waitomo Caves

Nigeria

Lagos

Norway

Oslo

Panama

Panama City

Peru

Machu Picchu & Huayna Picchu // Lima // Aguas Calientes // Andes Mountains // Huacachina

Philippines

Palawan // Manila

Poland

Krakow

Portugal

Lisbon

Romania

Russia

Moscow // St Petersburg

Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park

Saint Lucia

Samoa

Saudi Arabia

Al-Masjid an-Nabawi

Scotland

Edinburgh // Loch Ness // Inverness // Glasgow // Scottish Highlands

Singapore

Marian Bay Sands

Slovenia

Lake Bled

South Africa

Capetown // Johanessburg // Isle of Elephants

South Korea

Seoul // Jeju Island

Spain

Barcelona // Madrid // Sagrada Familia // Mosque of Cordoba

Sweden

Stockholm // Sweddish Lapland

Switzerland

the Alps // Bern // St Moritz

Tanzania

Mount Kilimanjaro // Serengeti

Thailand

Bangkok // the Grand Palace // Phuket

republic of Türkiye 

Cappadocia // Istanbul // Hagia Sophia // Pamukkale

Turkmenistan

Darvaza gas crater

Turks & Caicos

United Arab Emirates

Dubai // Burj Khalifa

United States

Grand Canyon // San Fransisco // Honolulu // Kauai // New Orleans // New York City // Seattle // Portland // Los Angeles // Antelope Canyon // MOMA // Las Vegas

Vanuatu

the Vatican

St. Peter's Basilica // The Vatican Museum // Sistine Chapel

Vietnam

Ha Long Bay // Hoi An // Hanoi

Zambia

Victoria Falls

[pangeen]

“ Vatnajökull National Park “ // Vincenzo Mazza

[thinkragelive]

2019 : Behold My Greatness

Interior canyon wall of Ásbyrgi Canyon in Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland.

[stumbleimg]

Mountain in Vatnajökull National Park Iceland [OC][2048x2048]

[ecofriendlytourist]

Dettifoss Waterfall

Dettifoss is a Waterfall in Northeastern Iceland, known for its impressive Water flow. It is situated in the Vatnajökull National Park and is Surrounded by a rugged, Barren landscape. The falls are 100 meters wide and have a drop of 44 meters, making them the most powerful in Europe. Visitors Come to see the Raw Power of the Falls and Experience the Surrounding Natural Beauty.

[streamingthruamerica]

Water and Ice, Part One

Water and Ice, Part One

Imagine an amphitheater of “organ pipes” carved out of a grass-topped lava field with a 20-metre waterfall plunging down its center into a roiling pool of green water. It sounds impressive, but seeing is believing, so Leah and I navigated to Skaftafell, a nature preserve in southeast Iceland that belongs to Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland’s largest park with 18% of the island’s land mass,…

[themaggieday]

Svartifoss Waterfall in Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park