Southern Iceland - Höfn to Vík

We are now on the home stretch and only have two full days left in Iceland.  We are wishing we had budgeted more time for the south coast because there are some amazing sights along the road here.  So much to see, so little time!

The Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is one of the most iconic destinations in the country. The glacial water has formed a lagoon that flows down to the ocean.  Large icebergs float all the way down from the glacier to the sea.

The beach is littered with ice chunks of all sizes that have washed ashore.

Continuing on our way toward Skaftafell park, we stopped in the tiny town of Hof.  This church (Hofskirkja) was built in 1883 the old style, using turf to insulate the roof.  It was the last church in Iceland that was built this way, and the church is still used by the community here.

Skaftafell is a part of the Vatnajökull National Park.  Here's the glacier that gives this section of the park its name: Skaftafellsjökull.  (Say that three times fast, if you can).

This part of the park is great for hiking and we really wish we'd had more time to do more than just one hike.  But if you can only do one, the hike to the Svartifoss waterfall is the one to do!  The name means "black falls" and it's surrounded by hexagonal basalt columns.

Another stop just off the main road is Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon.

Can you spot Kevin in this photo?

We finally arrived in Vík, but there was still more to see before we could turn in for the night.  This is the Vikurfjara black sand beach in town.  Seabirds nest in the cliffs and circle in massive flocks overhead all along the beach.  Having learned my lesson, I watched them warily from a distance to avoid any more confrontations...