Coming back from the icy fields (see last blog) you reach the area of Myvatn which is a geological and volcanic wonderland. Volcanism is everywhere…

Everything is steaming, venting, hissing, bubbling and simply outstanding beautiful. If you are lucky and quite lite (we were there around 9pm) than it is almost deserted as well and you can just enjoy yourself and the environment – without all the (sometimes) idiotic tourists who are damaging the fragile formations and causing loads of damage.

muddy how water is bubbling in the natural cauldron and creates these nice structures

And excess water is drained

This as a close up

Sulphur smokers

Structure is abundant

at the mud craters

a bit kitsch, a bit style – everything is there…

Mud again. We were actually lucky that it was so cold, so the mud around the area (which is extremely sticky) was frozen. Normally you start growing 3-6 cm as the mud sticks to your soles and you cannot get it off again…

Quite hot – sometimes upto 250° inside (well, technically this only works, if there is pressure involved – it is still water…)

Minerals are brought to the surface and crystalize there

Forming beautiful patterns and shapes. Yet some I have to say idiots have to walk through these delicate structures – despite having a rope everywhere. They even walk some 10cm to a bubbling mud lake – no idea what damage this causes to the environment (their own damage is deserved…)

Water drainage creates canyons

And the mineral deposits have just outstanding colours

Sulphur, copper, salpeter, arsenic, etc. etc.

Anorganic chemistry at its best

And the colours – especially in the evening light – are just like an opal

So smooth and gentle

Yet infinitely subtle

A last outlook

and farewell for now. We will be back on the leg back to the ferry middle of June.