Iceland: Visit the Lakes

During the recent catastrophic global economic collapse (you might have caught it on the news) Iceland almost went bankrupt. In January of this year, the government collapsed due to public dissent over the handling of the financial crisis. A new, left-wing government was formed shortly afterwards, the combined debt of the banks reaching six times that of the country’s gross domestic product, at that time around €14 billion. As of July this year, the interest rate stands at 12%, down from a record 18% at the end of last year.

It’s been a bad year for Iceland

Incredibly, despite this massive blow to the nation’s economy and the deposition of established government, Iceland can still lay claim to being one of the most progressive countries in the world. It was ranked first in the UN’s Human Development Index report and has the second longest average lifespan for men and women of any country. It’s also ranked as one of the most egalitarian nations in the world. Energy is cheap and plentiful thanks to the leveraging of geothermal power, a result of Iceland being situated on the mid-Atlantic ridge, a focal point for volcanic activity. Its rivers are also used to provide hydroelectric power to the population. All-round, Iceland could be seen as something of a good egg.
The second largest island in Europe after the UK, over half of its population lives in the capital Reykjavik, leaving much of the interior of the island completed barren and uninhabited, perfect for summertime expeditions to some of the quieter parts of the country. This is handy, as Iceland also boats some of the most beautiful natural views and scenery anywhere, from the fjords to the waterfalls (check out Gullfoss in Hvítá, Dettifoss in Jökulsá á Fjöllum, Aldeyjarfoss and Goðafoss in Skjálfandafljót, Hraunfossar in Hvítá in Borgarfjörður and Skógafoss in Skógá) to the rivers and glaciers (including Europe’s largest, the catchily named Vatnajökull, measuring 8,000 km²).

Iceland? Lots of ice then, yeah?

Of all its features, some of the most famed are its outstanding lakes. Take a look at some of these images for an idea of the kind of views you can expect when visiting the lakes:

• Màsvatn

• Kleifarvatn (sunrise in winter)

• Laugarvatn

With half of the population living in the major towns and cities, these lakes are as good as deserted most of the year, save for the fishermen. Their lake of choice is Myvatn, a premier tourist attraction and fishing lake. The number of fish caught in Myvatn far outweighs any other lake in the country. Couple with this with world-renowned scenery and bird life, and you have your first recommendation.

The catchily named Lake Thingvallavatn is the largest natural lake in Iceland, 84 km² in size. Curiously, its depth varies greatly, from 13 to 120 metres depending on where you’re standing. The temperature of the water remains constant throughout the entire year, an odd characteristic for a most beautiful location. About 50 km from Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, the lake is open for fishing from May to September.

Another curious lake is Thorisvatn. The vegetation around the lake has disappeared, giving it a barren and spoilt appearance. The attraction of the lake lies in its water, formed from melting glaciers. As a result, the water is crystal clear and almost completely unspoilt.

Crystal clear water

Of course, a visit to Iceland’s lakes should be accompanied by a sampling of its culture too. In this respect, there are certain opportune times of the year in which to visit the country. February sees the month-long festival of Þorrablót, which takes place mainly in homes and restaurants, giving natives and tourists a chance to sample some Viking cuisine. March 1st is Beer Day, a celebration of the lifting of a 75-year ban on beer in 1989. A good year. Throughout March there is also the Beer & Food Festival, a festival of promotions at bars and restaurants focussing on the achievements of chefs and brewers and also on local produce such as caviar, shrimp and cheese. If this is still not enough to satisfy you, then you can visit for the first day of summer, when a variety of parades, entertainment and sporting events around the country usher in the warmer months.

This day recognises previous generations who divided the year into only two seasons – winter and summer. You would have thought after all these festivities in the first few months of the year, things would quiet down a little. You would be wrong. On June 17th, Icelandic Republic Day celebrates the declaration of Iceland as a republic in 1944. The greatest celebrations are held in Reykjavik, with parades, street theatre and sideshows. To sample some of Iceland’s culture, head to the country in August. On one chosen evening during this month, museums, galleries, churches, cafés, restaurants and stores in Reykjavik stay open well into the night, presenting various exhibitions, concerts and theatre performances. Food and drink is served, and the night is concluded with a firework display at the harbour Miðbakki.

With all these festivities, beautiful scenery and relatively sparse population, you might be forgiven for thinking that Iceland is something of a secret haven. The country is easily accessible and due to its relatively concentrated population it’s easy to get away from it all. If you are considering getting back to nature for a bit, Iceland should be top of your list.

What a lovely place

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