Study Tour - Trip to Hekla

Long time no speak :) Well, I'm having conference now in Reykjavik and also some problems with Internet access, so I wasn't able to update my blog. I hope I'll still be able to catch up :)
After the trip around Reykjanes peninsula we decided to organize something by ourselves.
We chose the surroundings of Hekla volcano and decided to leave early in the morning. As I came back at around 5 o'clock to the dorm I had only 2 hours of sleep, so I had to take a nap in the car on the way.
Map of the trip (click to zoom).












Short stop next to a small river.













Hekla is a stratovolcano with a height of 1,488 m. It is Iceland's most active volcano; over 20 outbreaks have occurred in and around the volcano since 874. During the Middle Ages, Icelanders called the volcano the "Gateway to Hell."
Last eruption took place in February 2000. During this eruption, a NASA DC-8 plane accidentally flew through the plume with all instruments switched on, resulting in unprecedented measurement of a young volcanic plume.
The next eruption is believed by locals to be due some time in mid to late 2008, so maybe we'll get lucky :D
View on Hekla volcano.













Þjófafoss waterfall on Þjórsa river near volcano.


























Quick lunch before hiking.












Refilling bottle with a fresh water from the spring.












Small "forest" near a lava field.












Walking with a strong wind in the face, exhausted and starving we reached top of the hill :P













Panorama from the top.




Our team resting on a lava field covered with some kind of a grass - soft as a carpet :)
























On the way back.