hiestandhere's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Iceland

Arctic Circle Marker

A giant concrete orb in far north Iceland marks the ever-shifting boundary.
Husavik, Iceland

Sigurgeirs Bird Museum

Largest private bird collection in Iceland, formed from a tragic accident.
Iceland

Jökulsárlón

Iceland's largest lagoon is home to stunning multi-colored icebergs.
Stöðvarfjörður, Iceland

Petra's Stone and Mineral Collection

One woman's lifelong collection is on display in this unassuming house on an Icelandic fjord.
Eskifjörður, Iceland

Sören and Sigurborgar's Rare Stone Collection

This elderly couple's hand-picked collection of rare gems is one of the finest in all of Iceland.
Iceland

Hekla

A stratovolcano located in the south of Iceland, with a long history of charted activity and a rich mythology attached.
Iceland

Svartifoss

The unique waterfall in Iceland's south features a backdrop of geometric black lava columns.
Reykholt, Iceland

Snorralaug

This hobbit-y little hot spring may be the oldest spring used by humans in all of Iceland.
Iceland

Hallbjarnarstaðakambur

Three million year old fossils are exposed for all to see on this Icelandic shore.
Iceland

Haukadalur Geothermal Field

This valley of hot springs and boiling mud pots is home to the record-holding "Geysir," which originated the English word.
Iceland

Dettifoss

The most powerful waterfall in all of Europe.
Iceland

Gullfoss (Golden Falls)

If a glacial river suddenly diving into a sheer chasm via a dramatic, multi-stage waterfall isn't peak Iceland, it's certainly close.
Iceland

Krafla

This tumultuous Icelandic lava field looks so alien European researchers want to use it as a stand-in for Mars.
Iceland

Hvítserkur

Rising from the sea like a stone monster.
Iceland

Grjótagjá

This volcanic cave lake is essentially hard proof that Iceland is the most magical place on Earth.
Iceland

Dimmuborgir

These ominous lava formations were said to be an entrance to the netherworld so of course they inspired a famous metal band.
Iceland

Öskjuvatn and Viti Lakes

Two volcanic lakes in an enormous crater formed in a prehistoric eruption.
Iceland

Godafoss

This elegant arc of a waterfall marks a religious turning point.
Höfn, Iceland

Viking Village Film Set

This replica Viking village was created for a film that was never shot and is now open to visitors.
Iceland

The Eggs of Merry Bay

These enlarged egg sculptures represent the native birds of eastern Iceland.
Faroe Islands

Lake Sørvágsvatn

The largest lake in the Faroe Islands seems to be held hundreds of feet above sea level thanks to an optical illusion.
Gasadalur Village, Faroe Islands

Gásadalur Village

This remote island village was in danger of depopulating completely until a tunnel was built to connect it to the rest of the world .
Pyramiden, Norway

Pyramiden

This abandoned mining village was predicted to resist decay longer than any other modern human settlement.
Longyearbyen, Norway

Longyearbyen

In the northernmost city in the world, it's illegal to be buried because it’s too cold for bodies to decompose.