04P25779

Day 117, Wednesday, May 21 2025 - Reykjavík Iceland

Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland on the southern shore of the Faxaflói Bay.

Holland America Line tour “Iceland in Focus: Picture-Perfet Iceland” that took me to panoramic views over vast lava fields, hot springs, mountain ranges, lakes and unspoiled nature.

Visited the Bridge between two continents at Sandvík is a small footbridge over a major fissure, which provides clear evidence of the presence of a diverging plate margin. The bridge was built in 2002 as a symbol for the connection between Europe and North America.

It probably seems impossible to walk from Europe to North America within a matter of seconds, but Iceland is a unique place where seemingly unimaginable feats are completely real. The Bridge between Continents (or Miðlína) is a 15 metre (50 ft) footbridge in the Reykjanes Peninsula spanning a gaping rift between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.

The bridge is named after the famous Icelandic explorer Leifur Eiríksson. He was the first European to set foot in North America over 1.000 years ago, according to the Sagas. The bridge also serves as a symbol for the connection between two continents, Europe and North America, the new world and the old one.

Continued onto Valahnúkamöl, a striking high boulder ridge located on the southwestern tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland. It's known for its large, well-rounded stones, which have been shaped by the force of the ocean and powerful storms. The ridge is about 420 meters (1378 feet) long, 80 meters (262 feet) wide, and 10 meters (33 feet) high.

For those interested in natural history, Reykjanesta boasts a monument honoring the last great auk, an extinct bird species. This bronze sculpture crafted by American artist Todd McGrain depicts an auk. The statue is approximately five feet (150 centimeters) tall and gazes toward Eldey island where the last two confirmed auks met their demise in 1844.

Another fun thing to see in Valahnukamol is the two red keyboards bolted to the ground. The keyboards were used in the movie Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, which was shot in Iceland. The characters Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams portrayed played the keyboards in a music video that took place here.

Our last stop was the Heritage Museum on Garðskagi, Byggðasafnið á Garðskaga, located in a beautiful museum area by Garðskagaviti Lighthouse in Suðurnesjabær, where there is a panoramic view in all directions, diverse bird life and the sea in its ever-changing form and hiking trails by the shore. The motorboat Hólmsteinn GK20, a 43ton wooden boat, stands by the museum. The impressive collection on of several dozens of engines and motors, all in working conditon along with a GMC called the Truck / Trukkurinn with its long working history. The oldest engine is a Scandia engine from 1920. The wooden boat Fram, built in 1887, is preserved in the museum. Recently, a museum reception on and shop were opened, with furnishings from Þorlákur Benediktsson’s Store from 1921.

Photo album created with Web Album Generator