The mountain Bláfell is a table mountain, or stapi, of tuff (paagonite)formed by a volcanic eruption under an ice cap. The surrounding land at the foot of the mountain is 300-400 metres above sea level, while the highest peak of the mountain reaches a height of 1204 metres. Apart from glacial

Gullfoss is actually two separate waterfalls, the upper one has a drop of 11 metres and the lower one 21 metres. The rock of the river bed was formed during an interglacial period. Water flows over Gullfoss at an average rate of 109 cubic metres per second. The

The canyon below Gullfoss extends for some 2.5 kilometres and reaches a depth of 70 metres. Geologists have suggested that it may have been formed in torrential floods caused by socalled jökulhlaup (glacial outbursts), occurring near the end of the last ice age. The end of the

The land surrounding Gullfoss is about 200 metres above sea level. Vegetation is typical of Icelandic heathland and many of its characteristic forms are visible here outside the windows. Lichens grow on the rocks, forming irregular patches of varying colours. Wooly willows are widespread in the dry moorland and are easily

The river system of Hvítá, Sogid and Ölfusá extends from the mountains to the beaches and from the glaciers to the sea, connecting Kerlingafjöll, Gullfoss, Geysir, Skálholt, Ármannsfell, Thingvellir and Eyrarbakki. For thousands of years the rivers have followed their courses, delighting Sigridur of Brattholt with their beauty and power, while

The route over Kjölur (literally, the "keel") crosses the central highlands of Iceland between the glaciers Langjökull and Hofsjökull. It became a frequently travelled route soon after Iceland was settled in the ninth century, but during the 17th and 18th centuries travelling through the highlands decreased considerably. At the beginning of