Entrance to Þórsmörk

Before you can enjoy the mild microclimate and the birch forests of Þórsmörk you have to ford at least one really serious river. The first and unavoidable obstacle is Steinholtsá, a glacial river coming from Eyjafjallajökull (see PiP). There have been fatal accidents because unprepared tourists tried crossing with small 4x4. When we got there, 2 big 4x4 were waiting and only followed after they had watched our bus successfully manage it. Kudos to our experienced and calm driver!

This video mainly shows how not to cross (ignore the promotional bits), it's quite fun to watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2y4Co9Mb_U

Erhard Bernstein, Percy Schramm, Nouchetdu38, slgwv and 38 other people have particularly liked this photo

45 comments - The latest ones

Jaap van 't Veen ^club

What a beautiful landscape image; so fascinating.

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to Jaap van 't Veen ^club

Thabk you, Jaap! It was a privilege to see be there.

2 years ago.

Jaap van 't Veen ^club has replied to Gudrun ^club

Can imagine.

2 years ago.

©UdoSm ^club

Oh, wunderschön ist diese Farbkombination von schwarzem Boden und dunkelgrünen Bergen.
Sieht man so in unseren Breiten eher selten, daher fällt es wohl besonders ins Auge...

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to ©UdoSm ^club

Herzlichen Dank, Udo! Bei uns ist halt nicht alles vulkanisch:-) Das Grün an den Bergen ist alles Moos und vielleicht ein paar Flechten...

2 years ago.

Amelia ^club

I have seen a successful crossing here by the professional on you tube weeks ago, Gudrun. I watched it before you posted this photo and now i see that you are exactly here. Amazing place.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eri12elxM94

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to Amelia ^club

Thanks a lot, Amelia! Yes, I instantly recognised the place by that characteristic mountain! We were extra careful, all our luggage was up in the passenger compartment;-)

2 years ago.

Stephan Fey ^club

Schön, diese schroffen Formationen!

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to Stephan Fey ^club

Besten Dank, Stephan! Alles vor langer Zeit bei einem Ausbruch unter dem Gletscher entstanden....

2 years ago.

Schussentäler ^club

Eine faszinierende Landschaft,
Das Video zeigt die Unvernunft der Menschen

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to Schussentäler ^club

Danke vielmals, Reinhard! Ja, man kann nur den Kopf schütteln... Weil die Mietwagenfirmen jetzt den kleinen Allradfahrzeugen die F-Straßen verbieten, ist es zum Glück ruhiger geworden:-)

2 years ago.

Keith Burton ^club

Such a dramatic landscape Gudrun.............despite the threatening clouds, the light is really lovely and has brought out the amazing green colours and wonderful textures in the rock formations.

The PiP is gorgeous too, and I love the blue sky and cloud formations. The rocks and mountains are really beautiful...........the river seems very wide and there is no way to see. how deep it is. I can see why some people get into trouble when they don't follow the safety guidance.

A super video clip too...............funny, but potentially fatal..!!

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to Keith Burton ^club

Thanks very much, Keith! The deeper we got into the valley the better the weather:-)
Yes, we always had a good laugh when we saw another exhaust pipe or numberplate lying in a river;-) Sadly some people seem keen on the Darwin award....

2 years ago. Edited 2 years ago.

Don Sutherland ^club

Dramatic landscape photo.

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to Don Sutherland ^club

Thanks a lot, Don!

2 years ago.

Jan

Wow. Fabulous scene. Great depth

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to Jan

Thank you so much, Jan!

2 years ago.

cammino ^club

Herrlich. Genauso habe ich Island in Erinnerung.

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to cammino ^club

Besten Dank! Das Land ist einfach wunderbar! Und die F-Straßen sind viel ruhiger geworden, seit die Mietwagenfirmen den kleinen 4x4 das Befahren verbieten....

2 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club

It sounds like a calm driver is essential Gudrun! Two superb shots and the sky in the PiP is so beautifully captured. It gives great depth to the picture.

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to Rosalyn Hilborne ^club

Thanks a lot, Rosa! The thing is driving slowly and in low gear- all those testosterone fuelled guys driving into a ford at high speed are in for trouble;-)

2 years ago.

Heide ^club

Das sieht fantastisch aus - ein Himmelsschauspiel über einer einmaligen und beeinduckenden
Landschaft.

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to Heide ^club

Herzlichen Dank, Heide! Das war eine Ecke, in die ich immer schon mal wollte:-)

2 years ago.

Boarischa Krautmo ^club

sehr schön!
wie das wohl mit dem Moped wäre.... ;-))

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to Boarischa Krautmo ^club

Besten Dank, Markus! Mit dem Moped? Sehr nass, und du würdest evtl ein Stück den Fluss runtergetrieben;-)

2 years ago.

Gillian Everett ^club

Scary river crossing, glad you all made it :-) Amazing scenery!

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to Gillian Everett ^club

Thjanks a lot, Gillian! In a big bus with high clearance and with a good driver it's no problem:-)

2 years ago.

Erika+Manfred ^club

Faszinierende Landschaft

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to Erika+Manfred ^club

Schönen Dank, Erika!

2 years ago.

tiabunna ^club

Great images and, watching your video link, that's quite a torrent of water coming down that river.

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to tiabunna ^club

Thank you so much, George! The river is glacial so it's unpredictable, sunny weather-lots of melt, especially later in the day. Rivers fed by springs (clear water) are usually much easier.

2 years ago.

Ulrich John ^club

Mondlandschafren ! Faszinierend, Gudrun !

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to Ulrich John ^club

Herzlichen Dank, Ulrich! Ich war hin und weg....

2 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club

A magical landscape and a superb capture, plus an interesting video link, Gudrun.

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to Roger (Grisly) ^club

Thanks very much, Roger!

2 years ago.

Madeleine Defawes ^club

Magnifiques images !
HFF et Bon weekend. Amitiés

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to Madeleine Defawes ^club

Merci bien, Madeleine!

2 years ago.

Malik Raoulda ^club

Un paysage a couper le souffle et admirablement partagée avec cette magnifique nébulosité.
Bon week-end.

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to Malik Raoulda ^club

Merci beaucouop, Malik! It was utterly beautiful and a privilege to be there!

2 years ago.

Klaus Krämer ^club

Danke für diese Einblicke. Es sieht so harmlos aus. Sehr schöne Bilder.

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to Klaus Krämer ^club

Dank dir, Klaus! Ja, Furten sind oft unberechenbar, deswegen lassen sie die kleinen Mietwagen da nicht mehr hin.

2 years ago. Edited 2 years ago.

slgwv ^club

The YouTube footage is pretty incredible! Reminds me of the exhortations in these parts never to drive into flowing water. Every year a few people drown in flash floods when their cars get swept away.

And, does "Thor" refer to the Norse god?

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to slgwv ^club

Yes, it does refer to the god- Þórsmörk means Thor's forest.
Flash floods are even more scary but I guess there would be warnings after heavy rain so everyone with a bit of brain would avoid going there...

The problem with Icelandic F roads and fords is that every tourist thinks they can do it with a 4x4 (an American drowned in Steinholtsá). That's why they have recently resorted to forbiddung F-roads to small rental 4x4. It was nicely quiet in the highlands this year, no idiots in flip flops and shorts in areas of permafrost;-)

2 years ago.

Percy Schramm ^club

Wunderbare Lichtverhältnisse.

2 years ago.

Gudrun ^club has replied to Percy Schramm ^club

Herzlichen Dank, Percy! Bei Regen am Hotel losgefahren und dann wurde es immer besser:-)

2 years ago.

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