We protect what we love

FRIDAY . 10 . 09 . 21 .

Good afternoon wonderful friends of For Wild Places 👋🏽

As Sydney enters its 10th consecutive week of lockdown, Melbourne exceeds the 200-something day mark (I've actually lost count) and speculation continues to swirl as to when the country will open up again, wild places seem so far away. So...

We've decided to bring wild places to you. Over the next few weeks, we're going to be taking you to some of FWP team member's favourite wild places from around the world so that you can live vicariously through our travel photos and stories. We also hope that these will inspire some post-pandemic travel plans...once borders re-open. 🤞

This week, we're taking you to Iceland - the land of Ice and Fire.

"Why Iceland?" you might ask. Well, that's exactly what my year 7 geography teacher said when I selected Iceland as my first project. My response was "I'd never heard of it before and wanted to learn about it." Moral of this story - stay curious. The beauty of the Icelandic landscape, folk tales of trolls and environmental initiatives captured by attention and Iceland sky rocketed to the top of my travel bucket list.

Fast forward almost 12 years and I finally visited this spectacular country. At the time I was an enthusiastic landscape photographer, and Iceland seemed like the perfect place to visit (it also seemed foolproof, like, how can you actually stuff up a landscape photo when you're presented with such stunning scenery?).

At a time when there are so many debates about zero-emission policies in Australia (coupled with inaction), it is encouraging to visit a country where green energy and sustainability policies are favoured. In fact, aggressive and innovative carbon policies are the norm - from geothermal energy plants, greenhouses and fisheries that provide sustainable local food sources to carbon capture programs. I remain instilled with a sense of hope and optimism for a future where people and the environment can live in harmony with each other in Australia.

🌋 🗻 🌋 🗻

DELICATE ECOSYSTEMS OF ICELAND

Eldhraun lava fields, Southern Iceland

With lush green moss extending in each direction as far as the eye can see, and a dense grey mist hovering above, the Eldhraun lava fields of Southern Iceland are eerily quiet and breathtakingly beautiful. But beneath this stunning moss lies an ecosystem still recovering from the most devastating basaltic fissure eruptions in human history - the Skraftár Fires. The volcanic eruption lasted for 8 months, from June 1783 to February 1784, and the effects were experienced around the world with weird weather and failed crops.

Following the volcanic eruption, tiny moss spores brought in by strong winds, landed on the lava field and started to grow. There are now 606 different species of moss in Iceland, with the ‘woolly fringe-moss’ dominating these lava fields. Like green clouds resting on the ground, the wonder of the ethereal moss heaths form part of a very fragile ecosystem - it can take a century to grow back after humans step on it (that’s if it grows back at all).

NAMAFJALL GEOTHERMAL FIELD

Bubbling mud pit of Hverir

The bubbling mud pits and steaming fumaroles of Hverir - a high-temperature geothermal area which is part of the Námafjall Geothermal Field - are unlike any landscape that I’d seen before. The Mars-like terrain is a unique geological phenomenon, stained with stunning colours, from deep earthy reds to steel blue clays. You will smell the area before you actually see it - the gases escaping from the subterranean vents (primarily sulfur) smell like rotten egg. And this smell (unfortunately) isn’t localised to the mudflats. The water in local towns is actually geothermally heated so you actually can’t escape this eggy smell. This area lies above the Mid-Atlantic Ridge - the spot where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet. These plates are divergent, meaning that they are moving apart and magma rises to the surface from below. The area is marked by a belt of volcanic craters, hot springs, steam springs, solfataras and earthquakes.

The Bjarnarflag power station is located several kilometres away and uses naturally produced steam to generate electricity and heating for the local district - a beautiful example of man and earth living in harmony, as the area's natural geothermal power is used.

Viti crater in Krafla Volcano

Viti means ‘hell’, and there are two of them in Iceland: Viti in Krafla (where I visited) and Viti in Askja. Krafla is one of the most well known volcanoes in Iceland, and (like most volcanoes) is part of a greater volcanic system. It is one of the country's most explosive volcanoes, having erupted 29 times since settlement. The water in the lake, located at the bottom of the viti crater, is a stunning aqua blue. This colouration is due to natural elements brought up from the geothermal activity in the area.

JÖKULSÁRLÓN

Translates to “glacial river lagoon”

Jökulsárlón Lagoon (not pictured: a seal rolling around playfully in the foreground)

I had seen so many stunning pictures of the one of the most famous glacial lagoons in the world and, as an aspiring landscape photographer, was keen to capture the natural beauty. I was up early, had my camera gear packed and ready to go, and arrived at the lagoon well before sunrise to make sure I captured the stunning refraction of sky light and the reflections in the ice. However, the excitement and enthusiasm came to a very abrupt halt.

The reality of climate change really hit me whilst I was standing on the nearby beach, witnessing large chunks of the Vatnajokull glacier drifting out to sea. The lake is a devastating consequence of climate change - the lagoon only appeared in the mid-1930’s and is now the deepest lake in the country.

Melting chunks of the Vatnajokull glacier on a nearby beach

The Vatnajokull glacier is not the only glacier to be feeling the effects of climate change. All glaciers in Iceland are retreating at an unprecedented pace. Despite being one of the world’s greenest countries and at the forefront of eco-friendly initiatives, such as dependence on it’s geothermal landscape to produce electricity, Iceland is not immune from the impacts of climate change. In 2014, the country bid farewell to its first glacier, Okjokull, which was lost to climate change.

MORE ICELAND CONTENT

If you want to continue your virtual adventure of Iceland (that doesn't

include GOT content), here are some recommendations, or read the

extended article via our website.

Movies/Documentaries

Episode 1 of Down to Earth with Zac Efron

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty with Ben Stiller

Under an Arctic sky - a crew of devoted surfers chase a storm swell (the biggest storm to hit Iceland in 25 years) to the remote fjords of northern Iceland. The film is captures by outdoor adventure photographer Chris Burkard.

Music/Podcasts

A compilation of music from, and inspired by, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

All things Iceland (learn a bit about geothermal bathing culture)

Books

Names for the Sea: Strangers in Iceland by Sarah Moss

Tales of Iceland: Running with the Huldufolk in the permanent daylight by Stephen Markley

So there you have it folks. A tiny, tiny taste of Iceland - there is so much more to discover. If you have any travel images and stories that you would like to share, please get in contact with us via Instagram or hello@forwildplaces.com. We'd absolutely love to include them in the newsletter.

WOMEN'S ADVENTURE FILM TOUR

Screening 11-25 September 2021

The Women's Adventure Film Tour is a celebration of the inspiring women around us who are doing extraordinary things in the name of adventure. Created by Adventure Entertainment, the film tour is Film Tour is an official part of Women's Health Week by the Jean Hailes Foundation in Australia.

The film follows the incredible journeys of some of Australia's most inspiring athletes, including Torah Bright, Jacqui Bell, Lucy Bartholomew, Kate Leeming, Krystle Wright and Mirna Valero (these are just a few - there are so many more).

The Film Tour is only available for screening between 11-25 September 2021, so follow this link to get access to the inspiring content.

🌋 🗻 🌋 🗻

Thank you for taking the time for wild places. Stay safe and connected.

Elanor & the For Wild Places crew.

CHECK US OUT ON INSTAGRAM



We acknowledge the the First Nations people who have been custodians of land, waters and culture for tens of thousands of years. We pay respects to First Nations Elders past, present and emerging.

This newsletter was written on the stolen lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation.

To these people, we pay our respects.

Always was, always will be.

By For Wild Places

We're a group of adventurers who love to

protect wild places we run on