During the first week of the Half Term, FHS provided an exciting and educational trip to Iceland. Once we arrived, we visited the bridge between continents where we were able to cross between Europe and North America in seconds! We then rode over to the Nátthagi Valley where we were able to see the most recent lava flow from the Fagradalsfjall volcanic eruption.
On the second day, we met our guide, Helga, who was extremely helpful and interesting throughout the week. We then travelled to the lava tunnels, which we were then guided through. The tunnels were lit by atmospheric lights which imitate the colours the lava would give off if it was still in the tunnel. Once we’d reached the heart of the tunnel, our guide turned off all the lights and we were left in pitch black. This far into the caves, there were no cracks or holes for natural light to come in, and it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience utter darkness. Next, we visited the magnificent Seljalandsfoss waterfall and even had the chance to walk behind it; it was a magical experience. That afternoon, we were taken on a walk over the Solheimajokull Glacier. Each girl was given their ice pick and pair of crampons (special outer soles put on your shoe that help you have a better grip on the ice). The view from the top was beautiful and many girls drank water from a fresh stream that was running down the glacier.
On the third day, we visited Reynishverfi, a volcanic beach made of black sand. There were many intriguing rock formations and small gate caves we were able to explore and take pictures of. We then visited the small coastal town, Vik, which overlooked Reynishverfi. We then went on a short hike through Hverageroi, a place abundant with geothermal activity, and the Hverageroi hot spring walk, where many of us first saw a hot spring erupt. On the last day, we visited the secret lagoon. This naturally heated pool is in the small village of Flúoir. The water stays 38-40°C all year round and is located right next to in a place of high geothermal activity. We then visited the Gullfoss waterfall. This waterfall has two stages with two different viewing platforms to see each stage. We then visited Geysir, where we were able to witness multiple eruptions of Strokkur, which reached heights of around 30m each time. Finally, we visited Pingvellir. This National Park is where Iceland’s parliament was first of established in 930AD. Its rift valley was formed along where the Eurasian and the North American tectonic plates have pulled apart. They continue to pull apart at an average of 3 cm a year.
Overall, this was an amazing trip that every student and teacher thoroughly enjoyed.
Elsie H, UIV
As we stepped off the plane, thirty-nine of us students felt the clean, crisp, yet vicious wind!
Our packed itinerary began with a visit to the ‘bridge between continents’, which connects the Eurasian and North American plate. Following this, we went to the recent volcanic eruption sight of the Fagradalsfijall volcano. It was interesting to see that the lava flow was still steaming one year after the eruption. In the evening, we went to The Hamburger Factory where they ring a bell every time they know a new baby has been born. Unfortunately no births occurred when we were dining but it was a nice touch to see the population of the island: 376,475 people at the time.
(I found it amusing to see the ‘Iceland’ supermarket perched next to a roundabout in Iceland!)
On our first evening, we were struck with such luck that the Northern Lights came out to see us. We were able to take some incredible photos of the lights.
On our first full day, we went to The Lava Tunnel Walk where we were walked through an expansive cave. Interestingly, the cave had no echo, meaning no bats could inhabit it. The caves walls were red due to the presence of oxygen in the air, causing rust. A moment which scared some people, was when we had to stand quietly at the end of the trail while the guide turned off the lights. I thought it was quite an amazing moment as it was completely dark, as no light could enter the cave that far away.
During our trip, we visited three waterfalls. Personally, I liked Seljalandfloss (our first waterfall) the best and this was also my favourite activity on the trip. To able to walk behind the waterfall and to see the water flow down like mist was magical. There was also a hidden waterfall right next to it called Gljufrabui. The other two waterfalls, Skogafoss and Gulfoss were also very impressive. I enjoyed climbing up to the top of the hill to see Skogafoss better, and the size of Gulfoss was impressive.
The Solheimajokull Glacier Walk was an incredible experience, featuring glaciers which are essentially ice covered volcanoes. It was a shame that unfortunately due to climate change, much of the ice has melted away – a whole lake’s worth in just around ten years. My favourite moment was when we were able to drink water from the stream and eat the clean ice, which showed how fresh and tasty the water was in Iceland!
Other activities we took part in included a visit to a black volcanic beach, a number of geysers and The Secret Lagoon. This was relaxing and warm and I think many of us would have liked to have stayed in it for longer!
On behalf of all the pupils who went on the trip, I would like to thank all the teachers for putting up with us for 5 days (!) and Ms Hack for coordinating this incredible and unforgettable experience. Additional thanks to our tour guide Helga and coach driver Chris for their hard work in making our experience very enjoyable and interesting.
Charlotte M, UV
