John and Jean: Kirkjubaejarklaustur to Vik

We continue with our trip along the South coast of Iceland. You have to enjoy their town names. Kirkjubaejarklaustur can be broken down to Kirkju (church) baejar (farm) and klaustur (convent) and it's commonly referred to as Klaustur (pronounced like "cloister"). The town was first settled by Irish monks before the Vikings arrived - thus the church farm. The convent of Benedictine nuns was established in 1186. During the Laki eruptions in the late 1800's, the area just west of the town was devastated by the lava stream. The lava field averages 12m thick and contains more than 15 cu km of lava and covers an area of 565 sq km, making it the world's largest recorded lava flow from a single eruption, according to Lonely Plant. We visited the following natural areas on our journey from here to Vik.

Waterfalls along the road...

They are around almost every corner!

Just down the road from this was the canyon...

Fjabrargljufur - the canyon through the lava field...

It was stunning!

The Church Floor - columnar basalt eroded and shaped by wind and waves.

This lime green moss covers much of the lava field...one of 5

types of moss that can survive the harsh conditions.

On to Vik, the southernmost town in Iceland and the rainiest. We have no doubt about that, it poured, but just added to the atmosphere!

The Reynisdrangar - seastacks. The cliffs are nesting places for

puffins who unfortunately have moved on to warmer climes.

Basalt columns along the black beach...

Along the Reynisfjara - black beach

Note the black beach and thundering waves!!

A geologists dream area.

The Dyrholaey - 120 m high headland extending into the sea...from tuff.

After the beach we stopped by the Black Beach Cafe for some warming lamb soup and smoked salmon sandwich...yum! Then on west along the South Coast to Rt. 249/F249. (the F roads are the 4-wheel drive roads we can't go on...but can go up to them. Didn't have to go far though to see the following...