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  • Late afternoon storm clouds develop over lichen-covered volcanic rocks and hills near Hveragerði in southern Iceland.
    Iceland_Developing-Clouds_Volcanic-R...jpg
  • A flock of barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) take flight in wetlands near the town of Höfn, Iceland. Barnacle geese typically use Iceland as a migratory stop as they travel between their wintering grounds in Great Britain and their breeding grounds in Greeland, although growing numbers of the birds are now nesting in Iceland as well.
    Geese-Barnacle_Flock_Hofn-Iceland_37...jpg
  • A rainbow starts to rise from the Atlantic Ocean not far from Reynisdrangar sea stacks just off Reynisfjara beach near Vík í Mýrdal, Iceland. There are a number of Iceland legends about the basalt sea stacks. In the most common legend, two trolls were turned to stone as they were caught dragging a three-masted ship to shore at daybreak.
    Iceland_Vik_Troll-Rocks_Rainbow_2252.jpg
  • The summit of Hekla, one of the most active volcanoes in Iceland, is obscured by storm clouds just before sunset. The volcano, located in south Iceland, has a height of 1,491 meters (4,892 feet), and has erupted at least 20 times since the year 874. Hekla is the Icelandic word for a short hooded cloak, a nod to the fact that the mountain is frequently shrouded by clouds.
    Iceland_Hekla_Storm-Clouds_2689.jpg
  • Fresh snow coats the summits of the peaks at Landmannalaugar, located in the highlands of Iceland. Landmannalaugar, part of the Fjallabak Nature Reserve, sits at the edge of the Laugahraun lava field, which was formed in an eruption around the year 1477.
    Iceland_Landmannalaugar_2640.jpg
  • A bright rainbow shines over the Atlantic Ocean near the Reynisdrangar sea stacks, also known as the Troll Rocks. The Troll Rocks are located near Vík, Iceland. According to Icelandic legend, the rocks are the remnants of trolls that were out fishing too late. The legend says trolls will turn to stone if they're exposed to daylight.
    Iceland_Vik_Troll-Rocks_Rainbow_2275...jpg
  • A pseudocrater is rendered in silhouette against a volanic cone at sunset in Mývatn in northern Iceland. Mývatn is a lake that was formed approximately 2,300 years ago during a volanic period. The shorter hill is a pseudocrater, also known as a rootless vent. While it resembles a volcanic cinder cone, it formed through a different process. As basaltic lava flowed over soggy lake sediments, it flash heated the moisture into vapor, causing it to blast through the lava. Mývatn means lake with midge flies; the lake is infested with them during the summer months.
    Iceland_Myvatn_Pseudocrater-Silhouet...jpg
  • At low tide, water carves a curved, shallow channel through the mudflats at Stokksnes, Iceland.
    Iceland_Mudflat-Curves_Stokksnes_509...jpg
  • Bright yellow lichen grows along a stretch of the river Jökulgulskvísl, which means "glacial yellow fork," in the southern highlands of Iceland.
    Iceland_Jokulgulskvisl_2575.jpg
  • Atlantic Ocean waves flow into a sea cave in a basalt cliff near Hellnar on the Snæfellsnes peninsula in western Iceland.
    Iceland_Hellnar_Sea-Cave_9271.jpg
  • Large icebergs float in the glacial lagoon of Jökulsárlón in southern Iceland. The glacial lake is full of icebergs that have fallen from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier.
    Iceland_Jokulsarlon_Large-Icebergs_5...jpg
  • A crack is visible in a large, blue iceberg in glacial lagoon of Jökulsárlón in southern Iceland. The glacial lake is full of icebergs that have fallen from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier.
    Iceland_Jokulsarlon_Large-Crack-Iceb...jpg
  • Rock debris is visible on the face of a large iceberg that is floating in the glacial lagoon of Jökulsárlón in southern Iceland. The glacial lake is full of icebergs that have fallen from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier.
    Iceland_Jokulsarlon_Large-Iceberg-De...jpg
  • Sunlight streaks through a break in the dark clouds during a rainstorm over the Hengill mountains in southwestern Iceland.
    Iceland_Hengill_Rainstorm_3256.jpg
  • Fog and pastel-colored clouds are reflected onto the water of Hornafjörður, a fjord in the Eastern Region of Iceland near Höfn. The Vatnajökull ice cap, the largest glacier in Europe, is visible on the horizon. Breiðabunga, a 3,468-foot (1,057-meter) ice-capped mountain, is among the peaks covered by the ice cap. Vatnajökull roughly translates to the "water glacier."
    Iceland_Pastel-Sunrise_Hornafjordur_...jpg
  • A pseudocrater is rendered in silhouette against a volanic cone at sunset in Mývatn in northern Iceland. Mývatn is a lake that was formed approximately 2,300 years ago during a volanic period. The shorter hill is a pseudocrater, also known as a rootless vent. While it resembles a volcanic cinder cone, it formed through a different process. As basaltic lava flowed over soggy lake sediments, it flash heated the moisture into vapor, causing it to blast through the lava. Mývatn means lake with midge flies; the lake is infested with them during the summer months.
    Iceland_Myvatn_Pseudocrater-Silhouet...jpg
  • Rock debris is visible on the face of a large iceberg that is floating in the glacial lagoon of Jökulsárlón in southern Iceland. The glacial lake is full of icebergs that have fallen from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier.
    Iceland_Jokulsarlon_Large-Iceberg_De...jpg
  • A European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis), also known as a common shag, poops on a large rock at the edge of the Ísafjarðardjúp fjord near Ísafjarðarbær in the Westfjords region of Iceland.
    Shag-European_Pooping_Iceland_3539.jpg
  • A gull flies over an iceberg of blue ice in the glacial lagoon of Jökulsárlón in southern Iceland. The glacial lake is full of icebergs that have fallen from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier.
    Iceland_Jokulsarlon_Blue-Ice_3667.jpg
  • Barnacle geese rest on the mudflats of Flói, a small inlet near Höfn, Iceland.
    Geese-Barnacle_Flock_Hofn-Iceland_36...jpg
  • Atlantic Ocean waves crash into icebergs that have washed ashore at Breiðamerkursandur, a beach in southeast Iceland.
    Iceland_Icebergs_Beach_3889.jpg
  • An Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) looks out from its perch on a grassy bluff in Látrabjarg, Iceland. Atlantic Puffins are known for their colorful bills, which are especially colorful during the breeding season. About 60 percent of all Atlantic Puffins nest in Iceland.
    Puffin_Latrabjarg_Portrait_5068.jpg
  • An Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) looks out from its perch atop the Látrabjarg, Iceland, bird cliff. Atlantic Puffins are known for their colorful bills, which are especially colorful during the breeding season. About 60 percent of all Atlantic Puffins nest in Iceland.
    Puffin_Latrabjarg_Portrait_6403.jpg
  • An Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) looks out from its perch atop the Látrabjarg, Iceland, bird cliff. Atlantic Puffins are known for their colorful bills, which are especially colorful during the breeding season. About 60 percent of all Atlantic Puffins nest in Iceland.
    Puffin_Latrabjarg_Portrait_5695.jpg
  • Rain falls down the cone of the extinct Icelandic volcano Thrihnukagigur, draining into its former magma chamber. Thrihnukagigur last erupted more than 4,000 years ago and its name means Three Peaks Crater.
    Iceland_Volcanic-Cone_Thrihnukagigur...jpg
  • This is the inscription on the statue of Leif Ericson that is located in front of the Hallgrímskirkja church in Reykjavík, Iceland. The statue was given to Iceland in 1930 by the United States of America to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the founding of Iceland's parliament, called Alþingi, one of the oldest in the world. Leif, likely born in Iceland, was an 11th century explorer who may have been the first European to reach North America. The full inscription reads: "Leifr Eiríksson, son of Iceland, discoverer of Vinland, The United States of America to the People of Iceland on the one thousandth anniversary of the Althing, AD 1930."
    Iceland_LeifEricsonStatue_Inscriptio...jpg
  • The midday sun shines behind the cross atop Hallgrímskirkja, a Lutheran church and prominent landmark in Reykjavík, Iceland. Icelandic architect Guðjón Samúelsson designed the church to resemble the basalt columns found around Iceland. Construction of Hallgrímskirkja took 38 years, reaching completion in 1986. Also visible in this image is a Leif Eriksson Memorial, which the United States gave to Iceland in 1930 to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of Iceland's parliament at Þingvellir.
    Iceland_Hallgrímskirkja_9898.jpg
  • A reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) grazes in southeastern Iceland near the town of Höfn. Reindeer, also known caribou in North America, is a species of deer native to Arctic and Subarctic regions, although they were introduced to Iceland. The reindeer population in Iceland is estimated at between 2,500 and 3,000.
    Reindeer_Iceland_Hofn_3767.jpg
  • Two fulmars fly between the southern coast of Iceland and the Dyrhólaey peninsula. The peninsula features several sea arches, resulting its name, which means "the island with the hill door." During the early summer, thousands of fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) nest on rocky cliffs throughout Iceland.
    Iceland_Dyrholaey_Fulmars_7525.jpg
  • A fork of the Hengifossa River curves through a grassy hillside near Egilsstaðir, Iceland. Upstream is Hengifoss, Iceland's third-tallest waterfall.
    Iceland_Hengifossa_CurvedRiver_4892.jpg
  • A harbor or harbour seal (Phoca vitulina), also known as a common seal, swims between icebergs in Jökulsárlón, the glacier lagoon in Iceland. The harbor seal is Iceland's second-smallest seal, and one of only two types that pup there.
    Iceland_HarborSeal_Jokulsarlon_5620.jpg
  • A harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) swims among the towering icebergs in the glacial lagoon, Jökulsárlón, Iceland. The icebergs floating in the lake calved off from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier with some of the ice being more than 1,000 years old. Jökulsárlón covers an area of about 18 square kilometers (6.9 square miles) and ranks as the deepest lake in Iceland.
    Iceland_Jokulsarlon_Seal_3631.jpg
  • The Milky Way shines over the icebergs floating in Jökulsárlón, the glacial lagoon in southeast Iceland. The icebergs floating in the lake calved off from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier with some of the ice being more than 1,000 years old. Jökulsárlón covers an area of about 18 square kilometers (6.9 square miles) and ranks as the deepest lake in Iceland.
    Iceland_Jokulsarlon_MilkyWay_3427.jpg
  • Orange crustose lichen grows on the volcanic rock near Lake Mývatn in northern Iceland. Lichens are a symbiosis of a fungus and a green alga and/or cyanobacterium; and crustose is the most common type of lichen in Iceland; accounting for about 400 of the 700 identified species. Crustose are very slow growing; typically growing 1 millimeter or less per year.
    Iceland_Lichen_Myvatn_4007.jpg
  • Mineral-rich water from Konungshver, the King's Hot Spring, leaves colorful deposits as it flows from the geothermal spring in Iceland. Konungshver is located in southern Iceland near Geysir.
    Iceland_Konungshver_Runoff_2005.jpg
  • Strokkur, a geyser located in Iceland, blasts hot water up to 100 feet (30 meters) every four to eight minutes. The geyser, located in a geothermal region in Iceland's Golden Circle, first erupted in 1789. Strokkur is an Icelandic word meaning "churn" and the geyer's water level repeatedly surges and contracts just before it erupts.
    Iceland_Strokkur_Erupting_7747.jpg
  • A bright rainbow stretches across Skógafoss, located in southern Iceland. Skógafoss is one of Iceland's largest waterfalls, dropping 197 feet (60 meters). According to legend, the first Viking settler in the area, Þrasi Þórólfsson, buried a treasure in a cave behind the waterfall; the waterfall is so powerful no one has been able to get it.
    Iceland_Skogafoss_7659.jpg
  • Large pipes transport nearly boiling water away from the Svartsengi Power Plant in southwest Iceland. It is one of five major plants in Iceland that convert geothermal energy from volcanic sources to hot water or electricity. This plant produces 76.5 MW of electricity, and about 475 litres/second of 90 °C hot water. Excess hot water is used in the Blue Lagoon (Bláa Lónið).
    Iceland-Svartsengi-v.jpg
  • The northern lights, or aurora borealis, shine over and are reflect in Lake Mývatn  in northern Iceland. The lake, formed during a lava eruption 2,300 years ago, contains numerous lava pillars and rootless vents, called pseudocraters. Mývatn is Icelandic for "midge lake," and denotes the tremendous number of midge flies found in the area. The aurora borealis, frequently visible during the winter months in Iceland, is caused by charged particles from the sun crashing into the Earth's atmosphere.
    Iceland_Myvatn_NorthernLights_2983.jpg
  • Melt water from the Snæfellsjökull glacier in Iceland creates small rivers down the mountain. Snæfellsjökull is a 1,446-meter (4,744-foot) stratovolcano located on the Snæfellsnes peninsula in western Iceland. The volcano last erupted in approximately 200 AD.
    Iceland_Snaefellsjokull_MeltWater_96...jpg
  • A bright rainbow forms in the mist as the river Þjórsá drops at the waterfall Urriðafoss in southern Iceland. Urriðafoss, which means "The Waterfall of the Salmon," is only 6 meters (19 feet) tall, but carries the greatest water volume of any waterfall in Iceland. The water volume is typically 360 cubic meters per second.
    Iceland_Urridafoss_Rainbow_2167.jpg
  • Heavy snow blankets the banks of Goðafoss, regarded one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. The name Goðafoss means "Waterfall of the Gods." Located near Mývatn, it plunges 12 meters and is more than 30 meters wide, and is the largest waterfall on the Skjálfandafljót river. The name, however, comes from Icelandic legend: in the year 1000 AD, Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði, a chieftain in the region, threw his statues of the pagan gods into Goðafoss when he decided Icelanders should adopt Christianity.
    Iceland_Godafoss_Snowy_3461.jpg
  • The Lundadrangur Rock Arch towers high above the Atlantic Ocean at Dyrhólaey, Iceland. The Dyrhólaey Cliffs, which stand 120 meters (394 feet), were formed during an underwater volcanic eruption during the last ice age.
    Iceland_DyroholaeyArch_1820.jpg
  • Large pipes transport nearly boiling water away from the Svartsengi Power Plant in southwest Iceland. It is one of five major plants in Iceland that convert geothermal energy from volcanic sources to hot water or electricity. This plant produces 76.5 MW of electricity, and about 475 litres/second of 90 °C hot water. Excess hot water is used in the Blue Lagoon (Bláa Lónið).
    Iceland-Svartsengi-h.jpg
  • Water from the Greenland Sea, considered part of the Arctic Ocean, washes into Öxarfjörður, Iceland, exposing part of a black sand beach that was covered with snow.
    Iceland_Snow_BlackSandBeach_Öxarfjör...jpg
  • Flatey Island is the largest of the approximately 40 western islands in Breiðafjörður, Iceland. Flatey, which means flat in Icelandic, is about two kilometers by one kilometer, and has only five year-round residents.
    Iceland_Flatey_Island_9210.jpg
  • A bright rainbow shines over the Atlantic Ocean near the Reynisdrangar sea stacks, also known as the Troll Rocks. The Troll Rocks are located near Vík, Iceland. According to Icelandic legend, the rocks are the remnants of trolls that were out fishing too late. The legend says trolls will turn to stone if they're exposed to daylight.
    Iceland_TrollRocks_Rainbow_2275.jpg
  • Seven whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus) swim on Berufjörður, a narrow Atlantic Ocean inlet in southeastern Iceland. Above the clouds, the prominent pyramid-shaped mountain named Búlandstindur stands 1069 meters (3507 feet) above sea level.
    Iceland_WhooperSwans_Berufjörður_501...jpg
  • Steam rises from a volcanic cone at Landmannalaugar, located in the highlands of Iceland. Landmannalaugar, part of the Fjallabak Nature Reserve, sits at the edge of the Laugahraun lava field, which was formed in an eruption around the year 1477.
    Iceland_Landmannalaugar_SteamingCone...jpg
  • Two hikers stand near the summit of a steaming volcanic cone at Landmannalaugar, located in the highlands of Iceland. Landmannalaugar, part of the Fjallabak Nature Reserve, sits at the edge of the Laugahraun lava field, which was formed in an eruption around the year 1477.
    Iceland_Landmannalaugar_Hikers_Steam...jpg
  • A young arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) curls up to stay warm during a rainstorm near the summit of Thrihnukagigur, a volcano in southwestern Iceland. The arctic fox is also known as the white fox, polar fox, or snow fox, though it displays its pure white form only in the winter months. Arctic foxes, found throughout the Arctic tundra, are small with a body length of less than 3 feet (85 cm). To survive in such a harsh environment, they have very deep fur and a rounded body shape, which minimizes the portion of their body that is exposed to the elements.
    Fox_Arctic_Young_CurledUp_Iceland_28...jpg
  • Several seabirds fly over the Atlantic Ocean as the last light of day illuminates Snæfellsjökull, a glacier-covered stratovolcano in western Iceland. Located on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, Snæfellsjökull is 1,446 meters (4,744 feet) tall. Stratovolcanoes, also known as composite volcanoes, are typically cone-shaped and made up of many layers from many volcanic eruptions. Snæfellsjökull is approximately 700,000 years old and is estimated to have last erupted in 200 A.D. Snæfellsjökull is an Icelandic word meaning "snowy mountain glacier."
    Iceland_Snaefellsjokull_Birds_3325.jpg
  • A sign on the Icelandic island of Grímsey marks the location of the Arctic Circle, as well as the distances to major world cities. Grímsey is the northernmost point in Iceland and approximately half the island lies within the Arctic Circle.
    Iceland_Grimsey_ArcticCircleMarker_7...jpg
  • Rock cairns mark the site of an ancient Icelandic farm destroyed in the first recorded eruption of the volcano Katla. The large farm, known as Laufskálar, was destroyed in the 894 eruption. A lava mound was named Laufskálar Cairn after the farm. Travelers passing through the Mýrdalssandur area of Iceland for the first time are supposed to add a stone to the cairn to bring them good luck on their journey.
    Iceland_Laufskálavarða_7312.jpg
  • The Hvítá River drops 105 feet (32 meters) in two tiers into a narrow canyon at Gullfoss, one of Iceland's most popular waterfalls. Gullfoss means "golden falls."
    Iceland_Gullfoss_7800.jpg
  • Atlantic Ocean waves crash through an arch on the Dyrhólaey peninsula near Vík, Iceland. Dyrhólaey means "the hill island with the door-hole" and there are several arches in the peninsula, including one that is spectacularly large. The peninsula's basalt cliffs are as much as 120 meters (394 feet) tall.
    Iceland_Dyrholaey_Waves_Arch_2218.jpg
  • Numerous common eiders (Somateria mollissima) nest on the shore at Þorpar, Iceland, located next to a large fjord in the northwestern part of the country. Common eiders are a large sea duck that nest at the edge of the sea. Nests are lined with feathers plucked from the female eider's breast.
    Iceland_EidersNesting_Þorpar_2983.jpg
  • A long exposure blurs the water erupting from Strokkur, an active geyser in southern Iceland. Strokkur erupts every four to eight minutes, sending water as high as 40 meters (131 feet). Strokkur is the Icelandic word for churning; just before the geyser erupts, a ball of water full of bubbles repeatedly surges and subsides.
    Iceland_Strokkur_LongExposure_1980.jpg
  • Ten whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus) swim on Berufjörður, a narrow Atlantic Ocean inlet in southeastern Iceland. Above the clouds, the prominent pyramid-shaped mountain named Búlandstindur stands 1069 meters (3507 feet) above sea level.
    Iceland_WhooperSwans_Berufjörður_501...jpg
  • An Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) flies over the northern tip of Grímsey, the northernmost point in Iceland. The northern tip of the island lies within the Arctic Circle. The Arctic Ocean is visible in the background. The towering cliffs of Grímsey are used by thousands of nesting birds in the summer, including Atlantic puffins, gulls and fulmars.
    Iceland_Grimsey_NorthernTip_8033.jpg
  • The last light of day illuminates Snæfellsjökull, a 1,446 meter (4,744 foot) stratovolcano located in western Iceland. The volcano, which is active, last erupted approximately 1,800 years ago, creating lava fields at its base. The mountain is technically named Snæfell; Snæfellsjökull is the name of the glacier at its peak. It is commonly called Snæfellsjökull, however, to avoid confusing it with several other mountains with the same name. Snæfellsjökull means "snow glacier mountain," and it was featured in the 1864 novel "A Journey to the Center of the Earth" by Jules Verne.
    Iceland_SnaefellPano_9643-5.jpg
  • A glassy iceberg comprised of ice believed to be more than 1,500 years old floats in Jökulsárlón, the glacier lagoon in southern Iceland. The oldest ice in the lagoon is almost like glass. Over time, the weight of ice and snow on top of it presses out any air. Without the obstruction of air pockets, blue wavelengths of light are able to penetrate deep into the iceberg, resulting in the blue color.
    Iceland_Jokulsarlon_9421.jpg
  • Goðafoss, which means "Waterfall of the Gods," is regarded as one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. Located near Mývatn, it plunges 12 meters and is more than 30 meters wide.
    Iceland_Goðafoss_Dusk_7832.jpg
  • A rainbow forms in the bottom tier of Dynjandi, a waterfall located in the northwestern fjords of Iceland. Dynjandi is the tallest waterfall in the region, with a height of 200 feet (61 meters). It is nicknamed wedding cake falls because its tiers are wider at the bottom than at the top. The top of the waterfall is about 98 feet (30 meters) wide; the bottom tier is 196 feet (60 meters) wide.
    Iceland_Dynjandi_Rainbow_8992.jpg
  • Flatey Lighthouse, located on the small island of Klofningur about a half-mile from Flatey's Harbor, helps to guide vessels on the waters of Breidafjörður, Iceland. The Flatey Lighthouse was built in 1926.
    Iceland_FlateyLighthouse_6823.jpg
  • A juvenile glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) rests on an iceberg in Jökulsárlón, Iceland's Glacier Lagoon. The glaucous gull is one of the largest gulls with a typical wingspan of 60 inches (1.5 meters).
    Iceland_GullOnIceberg_Jokulsarlon_56...jpg
  • Atlantic Ocean waves crash on a black sand beach overlooking Reynisdrangar, the Troll Rocks near Vík, Iceland. According to Icelandic legend, the rocks are the remnants of trolls that were out fishing too late. The legend says trolls will turn to stone if they're exposed to daylight.
    Iceland_TrollRocks_7208.jpg
  • Snæfellsjökull, a 1,446 meter (4,744 foot) stratovolcano, is framed by a natural arch in a lava field in western Iceland. The volcano, which is active, last erupted approximately 1,800 years ago, creating lava fields at its base. The mountain is technically named Snæfell; Snæfellsjökull is the name of the glacier at its peak. It is commonly called Snæfellsjökull, however, to avoid confusing it with several other mountains with the same name. Snæfellsjökull means "snow glacier mountain," and it was featured in the 1864 novel "A Journey to the Center of the Earth" by Jules Verne..
    Iceland_Snaefell_Arch_9606.jpg
  • An iceberg carries a rock though Jökulsárlón, Iceland's glacial lagoon. Glaciers have been known to carry rocks great distances. Rocks fall onto glaciers, which move slowly down mountains. When the glacier melts so much that it can no longer support the rock, the rock is dropped and it becomes known as a glacial erratic. The term referrs to rocks that are different in size, shape or composition from other rocks around them.
    Iceland_Jokulsarlon_GlacialErratic_5...jpg
  • A towering columnar basalt cliff is partially reflected in the waters of Breiðasund in the town of Stykkishólmur, Iceland. Columnar basalt is a volcanic rock formed when basalt lava rapidly cools at or very near the Earth's surface. Basalt, which is naturally grey or black, is rich in iron and can rapidly rust, taking on a reddish-brown appearance.
    Iceland_ColumnarBasalt_Stykkisholmur...jpg
  • A towering columnar basalt cliff is partially reflected in the waters of Breiðasund in the town of Stykkishólmur, Iceland. Columnar basalt is a volcanic rock formed when basalt lava rapidly cools at or very near the Earth's surface. Basalt, which is naturally grey or black, is rich in iron and can rapidly rust, taking on a reddish-brown appearance.
    Iceland_ColumnarBasalt_Stykkisholmur...jpg
  • Numerous common eiders (Somateria mollissima) nest on the shore of Bitrufjörður, a large fjord in northwestern Iceland. Common eiders are a large sea duck that nest at the edge of the sea. Nests are lined with feathers plucked from the female eider's breast.
    Iceland_EidersNesting_Bitrufjordur_2...jpg
  • An arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) that has transitioned mostly to its white winter coat looks for food on the hillside above Fossárvik in southeastern Iceland. Arctic foxes, found throughout the Arctic tundra, are small with a body length of less than 3 feet (85 cm). To survive in such a harsh environment, they have very deep fur and a rounded body shape, which minimizes the portion of their body that is exposed to the elements.
    Fox_Arctic_WinterCoat_Iceland_3628.jpg
  • An arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus), displaying its white winter coat, looks out from behind a rock on the mossy hillside above Fossárvik in southeastern Iceland. The arctic fox is also known as the white fox, polar fox, or snow fox, though it displays its pure white form only in the winter months. Arctic foxes, found throughout the Arctic tundra, are small with a body length of less than 3 feet (85 cm). To survive in such a harsh environment, they have very deep fur and a rounded body shape, which minimizes the portion of their body that is exposed to the elements.
    Fox_Arctic_WinterCoat_MossyHillside_...jpg
  • Eight common gulls (Larus canus canus) rest on top of a giant iceberg in Jökulsárlón, the glacier lagoon in Iceland.
    Iceland_CommonGulls_Jokulsarlon_5532.jpg
  • A male common eider (Somateria mollissima) swims past icebergs floating in Jökulsárlón, the glacier lagoon in Iceland.
    Iceland_Eider_Jokulsarlon_5655.jpg
  • A long exposure blurs the water flowing over Fardagafoss, a waterfall near Egilsstaðir, Iceland.
    Iceland_Fardagafoss_4933.jpg
  • Several tall mountains stand over the ancient lava flow Búrfells-hraun in northern Iceland. Geologists believe a large lava lake formed here and then collapsed, releasing a flood of lava. Pieces of the lava crust flowed as much as 10 km (6.2 miles) downstream.
    Iceland_Burfells-hraun_3957.jpg
  • Several tall mountains stand over the ancient lava flow Búrfells-hraun in northern Iceland. Geologists believe a large lava lake formed here and then collapsed, releasing a flood of lava. Pieces of the lava crust flowed as much as 10 km (6.2 miles) downstream.
    Iceland_Burfells-hraun_3941.jpg
  • Blue-green water flows in channels carved into volcanic rock just outside the Blue Lagoon (Bláa lónið) in Iceland. The warm water is rich in silica, sulfur and other minerals, giving the water its color and milky texture. The water is heated by geothermal process and used to produce electricity before it is used in the Blue Lagoon, a popular outdoor spa.
    Iceland_BlueLagoon_5765.jpg
  • Numerous icebergs float in Jökulsárlón, the Glacier Lagoon, in southeastern Iceland. Big chunks of ice break off from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier and float in the lagoon until they melt or are carried by changing tides out to the Atlantic Ocean.
    Iceland_Jokulsarlon_WideView_7346.jpg
  • The milky blue water of Iceland's Blue Lagoon (Bláa lónið) somewhat mimicks the color of the summer sky. Portions of the Blue Lagoon are heated with natural, geothermal energy. The mineral-rich hot pools are a popular tourist destination.
    Iceland_BlueLagoon_Sky_9934.jpg
  • Seljalandsfoss, a 200-foot (60-meter) waterfall, is joined by several other smaller waterfalls in southern Iceland.
    Iceland_Seljalandsfoss_7293.jpg
  • Vestdalsheiði, a mountain in eastern Iceland, is reflected in a narrow stretch of a lake that has recently thawed.
    Iceland_Vestdalsheiði_4943.jpg
  • The setting sun shines through the Seljalandsfoss, a 200-foot (60-meter) waterfall in southern Iceland.
    Iceland_Seljalandsfoss_7272.jpg
  • An Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) dives off the Látrabjarg bird cliff in Iceland in search of food. Millions of birds, including Atlantic puffins, northern gannets, guillemots and razorbills, breed on the cliff in the summer. Látrabjarg is the western-most point in Europe and its largest bird cliff. It's 14 km (8.6 imles) long and as much as 440 meters (1,444) feet high.
    Iceland_Latrabjarg_PuffinDiving_9138.jpg
  • The Hvítá River drops 69 feet (21 meters) into a narrow canyon at Gullfoss, one of the most visited waterfalls in Iceland. Gullfoss means "golden falls."
    Iceland_Gullfoss_7765.jpg
  • A river winds through the gorge at Fjaðragljúfur, near Laki in southern Iceland.
    Iceland_Fjaðragljúfur_5734.jpg
  • Thick sheets of ice line the river that flows into the Dynjandisvogur Fjord in Iceland's West Fjords.
    Iceland_Dynjandisvogur.jpg
  • Vestrahorn, a mountain located in southern Iceland, towers over the black-sand beach near Stokksnes.
    iceland-vestrahorn_v5108.jpg
  • A power plant produces geothermal energy at Krafla, Iceland. The power plant turns heat from below the earth’s crust into 60 megawatts of electricity. The Krafla area is very volcanic. The Krafla volcano erupted nine times between 1975 and 1984 and very high temperatures are found 3 to 5 kilometers (2 to 3 miles) of the earth’s surface.
    Iceland_Krafla_GeothermalEnergy_3294.jpg
  • The golden light of sunrise shines on pools of water on the volcanic terrace below Strokkur, one of Iceland's most famous geysers.
    Iceland_Strokkur_GoldenPools_2775.jpg
  • A male common eider (Somateria mollissima) flies past icebergs floating in Jökulsárlón, the glacier lagoon in Iceland.
    Iceland_Eider_Jokulsarlon_5300.jpg
  • Dozens of whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus) feed in the shallow water of Lónsfjörður, a small fjord off the Atlantic Ocean in eastern Iceland. Several tall mountains are visible in the background. At right is Fjarðarfjall, an 888 meter (2913 foot) peak. The tallest mountain on the left is Vestrahorn with an elevation of about 730 meters (2395 feet). Brunnhorn is the smaller peak in front of Vestrahorn.
    Iceland_WhooperSwans_Vestrahorn_5060.jpg
  • A juvenile glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) flies over giant icebergs in Jökulsárlón, Iceland's Glacier Lagoon. The glaucous gull is one of the largest gulls with a typical wingspan of 60 inches (1.5 meters).
    Iceland_Gull_Flying_Jokulsarlon_5289.jpg
  • The sunset colors the clouds above Bláfjall, a 1222 meter (4009 foot) table volcano in northern Iceland. Bláfjall formed as a result of an eruption under a thick sheet of ice during the last ice age. Lava forced and melted its way up through the ice and formed a strong shield of lava on the mountain's summit. That strong layer resists erosion, giving the mountain its rectangular shape.
    Iceland_Blafjall_3928.jpg
  • A thick layer of minerals, especially silica, lines the edge of the Blue Lagoon (Bláa lónið), a geothermal spa in Iceland. The warm water is rich in silica, sulfur and other minerals, giving the water its color and milky texture. The water is heated by geothermal process and used to produce electricity before it is used in the Blue Lagoon, a popular outdoor spa.
    Iceland_BlueLagoon_1292.jpg
  • The sun sets over Breiðavik, a small bay that empties into the Altantic Ocean in western Iceland. During the summer, the sun does not set here until after midnight.
    Iceland_Breidavik_MidnightSunset_914...jpg
  • The setting sun shines through Seljalandsfoss, a 200-foot (60-meter) waterfall in southern Iceland.
    Iceland_Seljalandsfoss_7277.jpg
  • Numerous icebergs float in Jökulsárlón, the Glacier Lagoon, in southeastern Iceland. Big chunks of ice break off from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier and float in the lagoon until they melt or are carried by changing tides out to the Atlantic Ocean.
    Iceland_Jokulsarlon_WideView_7323.jpg
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