Our five-day expedition to Iceland took us through the beautiful south-west of the country. From the moment we landed, we were surrounded by spectacular landscapes unlike anything most of us had seen before.
Our home for the week was the Skálinn Centre in Hvolsvöllur, where each evening we gathered to eat together, play games and relax after long and action-packed days. Whether it was watching the England team play at the World Cup on the projector (thanks to our hostel manager, Kristjan) or going for morning runs with the group, the centre was a source of a lot of joy and fun on the trip.
Throughout the week we discovered Iceland’s extraordinary geology and scenery. At Þingvellir National Park, we had the incredible opportunity to snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of the Silfra Fissure, floating between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. It was surreal to swim between two continents in the clearest water in the world (which also happened to be extremely cold).
Our visit to the Secret Lagoon was a perfect way to experience the geothermal action in real life. Sitting in naturally heated water while surrounded by Iceland’s rugged landscape was an experience I am sure many of us will not forget.
We travelled along the spectacular south coast, climbing onto Sólheimajökull Glacier, where crampons allowed us to visit and walk on the jökull covered in volcanic ash from a previous eruption. Although it was beautiful to see, we realized how much climate change has affected the landscape in the last few years as the glacier continues to retreat.
One of the highlights of the trip was taking the ferry to the Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands). We learnt about the dramatic 1973 eruption on Heimaey, where a volcanic fissure opened only a short distance from the town. Climbing Eldfell gave us incredible views across the island and helped us understand how volcanic eruptions have shaped both the landscape and the lives of the islanders.
Towards the end of our stay in Iceland, we visited the country’s majestic waterfalls. We walked behind the curtain of Seljalandsfoss, explored the nearby ‘secret’ waterfall, and stood in awe as the powerful Skógafoss thundered into the valley below, sending spray high into the air. At Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, we admired the striking basalt columns and the towering sea stacks of Reynisdrangar.
To round off the trip, we visited Hellisheiði Geothermal Power Station, where we discovered how Iceland harnesses its geothermal activity to produce renewable energy and heat almost 90 per cent of its homes. Visiting Geysir and Gullfoss – where we got to see a geyser erupt right in front us, showed us yet more examples of the country’s powerful geothermal activity and beautiful scenery.
To sum everything up, the Sevenoaks Geography trip to Iceland was one of my favourite experiences at the school so far; witnessing the beautiful scenery, learning the unique geographical context behind Iceland and spending time doing amazing activities with friends was an experience I won’t forget.
Julien, Year 10
