ICELANDTRAVEL DIRECTORY 20Why choose Discover the World - see page 4 A vast and fascinating area, isolated, raw and rugged - once visited, never forgotten. This is a region where visitors feel humbled by lofty scenery and Mother Natures' awesome talent. A 4WD, high clearance vehicle is an absolute must, unless taking a guided tour. THE HIGHLANDS LANDMANNALAUGAR this area in the southern highlands, part of the Fjallabak region, offers an immense number of stunning views and outstanding natural beauty. The rhyolite lava actually sparkles in the sunshine and the myriad of colours in the mountains have to be seen to be believed. Many people come here in summer to walk and bathe in the natural hot river and horse riding excursions here are very popular. SPRENGISANDUR & KJOLUR these are remote gravel roads which traverse the highlands, offering far-reaching views of the ice caps when the weather is clear. Sprengisandur is the longest of the unpaved roads at over 200km and it begins near the Hekla volcano in the south ending at Godafoss in the north, crossing lava and vast ancient ice- age moraines. In some areas there are rivers which need fording and only 4WD high- clearance vehicles can cover this entire desolate and quite stark area during the summer months, although scheduled buses also cover parts. Kjolur, to the west, is also unpaved, passing the Kerlingarfjoll rhyolite ranges and Hveravellir, a colourful geothermal area. ASKJA a central volcano and caldera located in a very remote part of the highlands and only accessible for a few months each year ( excursions are bookable from Modrudalur in the East). A massive eruption in 1875 catapulted this region onto the world map and created the stunning lake, Oskjuvatn, actually the deepest in Iceland at 220m. Askja has erupted frequently over the last century, most recently in 1961. It is also where Apollo astronauts trained for moon missions. VITI this is a smaller explosion crater close to Oskjuvatn, about 100m in diameter. It also contains a lake of mineral- rich, opaque blue water which provides a great place for a swim in naturally heated water - as featured in our Summertime Special camping tour, see pages 96- 97. ELDGJA meaning ' fi re canyon' was formed in a powerful eruption in 934AD. The canyon and the nearby Laki craters are part of the same volcanic system as Grimsvotn and Katla. It is actually the largest volcanic canyon in the world - an impressive 270m deep and 600m wide. The area contains the waterfall Ofaerufoss. LAKI this chain of 100 craters was formed in a cataclysmic fi ssure eruption in 1783 that belched out toxic gases and caused widespread famine in Iceland and throughout Europe. HERDUBREID this 1682m high summit rises from the central plateau and has a fl at top and steep sides typical of volcanic tuff table mountains - fondly referred to as the ' queen of mountains'. A beautiful nature reserve lies at its foot. KARAHNJUKAR Iceland's largest hydroelectric power plant is located in the eastern highlands. Five major dams collect water to power six 115mw turbines, making a project of such proportion that it has featured on the National Geographic channel in one of their ' Megastructures' programmes. Colourful rhyollite mountains at Landmannalaugar Kjolur routeVitiBathing in geothermal rivers

tel. 01737 218 800 | discover- the- world. co. uk TRAVEL DIRECTORYICELAND 21 As the world's most northerly capital and one of the most compact - Reykjavik, the ' Bay of Smoke' never fails to surprise, at any time of year. With convenient connections from several UK airports ( see page 117) it is less than a three hour fl ight from the UK. REYKJAVIK REYKJAVIK Iceland's capital is just a 45 minute drive from the international airport at Kefl avik, and is situated in the south- west corner of the island. Extended days under the midnight sun make this a very popular summer destination but with the prospect of sightings of the northern lights, winter also has a special draw. This is a city with a ' small and friendly' appeal and is an ideal short break destination in its own right. But visitors, no matter how long they have here, shouldn't miss an opportunity to explore beyond the city limits where nature most defi nitely rules! PERLAN one of Reykjavik's two most prominent landmarks is Perlan or ' the Pearl' which overlooks the city from the top of Oskjuhlid Hill. Six large, silver circular tanks hold naturally heated hot water for the city and above the tanks a glass dome houses a revolving, world class restaurant. At night a bright light shines skywards from the tip of the dome. Inside the building you'll often fi nd a craft fair or art exhibition to stroll around but once you step onto the outdoor viewing platform you'll see why this is such a popular place to visit. HALLGRIMSKIRKJA vying with Perlan for the most distinctive building award has to be Reykjavik's tallest, the centrally located Lutheran church. Beautifully sculpted out of concrete and fi nished in 1986, the building is said to mirror nature's own basalt columns. For wonderful views over the city, take the lift to the top of the 250 foot tower. LAUGARVEGUR this is the original and main shopping street in Reykjavik, running east to west across the city. An eclectic mix of high fashion, Icelandic handicraft and book stores as well as quirkier offerings and a more favourable exchange rate are very tempting! In addition, Reykjavik has two more internationally styled shopping malls, Kringlan and Smaralind. OLD TOWN Austurvollur is the name given to the square in Old Town Reykjavik. Filled with fl owers and outdoor coffee drinkers in the summertime, this square is surrounded by brightly coloured buildings, the city's oldest church Domkirkja, the Parliament Building and elegant art deco Hotel Borg. OLD HARBOUR separate from the commercial harbour, this is where visitors congregate to head out to sea on whale watching trips. Moored old fi shing boats provide great photo opportunities. THE NATIONAL MUSEUM this state- of- the- art museum presents 1,200 years of Iceland's cultural and social history and is well worth a visit even if it isn't raining! The Culture House and Reykjavik Museum of Photography are also recommended. TJORNIN although this translates as ' the pond' it is best described as a lake, with a fountain and an abundance of birds, very willing to make friends in exchange for some bread. BLUE LAGOON a world- famous attraction is just a 30 minute drive from the capital. See next page for information. Views over the city from Perlan Hallgrimskirkja