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South Iceland as the area bounded by Reykjavik in the west, Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon in the east and the central highlands.
The south is both densely and sparsely populated. In general, the further you go from Reykjavik the less populated is the area. In the eastern part, between Jokulsarlon and the river Markarfljot are vast alluvial or outwash plains, black sanded beaches and lava fields with only narrow strips of lowlands, which limit agricultural activities and therefore the area is less populated. The western part however contains the largest and best agricultural area in Iceland and a few towns. The landscape, both the lowland and highland areas, contains many of the most interesting and beautiful sights in Iceland, including two national parks; Thingvellir and Skaftafell. The southern central highlands boast of the largest glaciers, most active and largest volcanoes as well as beautiful mountain ranges with some of the most popular hiking routes. One of the best known hiking-paths in Iceland, the Laugavegur (road to Laugar) is in the southern highlands, starting from Landmannalaugar going into Thorsmork and from there you can continue over Fimmvorduhals to Skogar on the south shore. There are three glaciers almost litterally on the south shore; Vatnajokull in the east which is Europe´s largest glacier and Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull a bit further west. The most famous volcanoes include Hekla, Katla, Vestmannaeyjar (Westmann islands), Surtsey and Lakagigar (Laki craters). The Lakagigar crater series, a few miles inland from Kirkjubæjarklaustur, it produced the largest lava flow ever witnessed in historical times anywhere in the world, during the Skaftareldar eruption of 1783. Another large lava field is the Thjorsa river lava field which flowed from the Veidivotn crater area all the way into the sea about 8.000 years ago.
Mt. Hekla is one of the most famous volcanoes in the world, for centuries believed to be the entrance to Hell. People believed that the souls of the damned burnt there in an everlasting fire. One of the two main seismic areas of the country streches between Mt Hekla and the green house town of Hveragerdi.
In the south west is the Reykjanes peninsula. Keflavik International airport is at the tip of the peninsula and on the short drive to Reykjavik you´ll see rugged and moss-grown lava fields, some only a few centuries old. Geothermal activity is also very much in evidence, in natural hot springs such as Krysuvik and especially at the Blue Lagoon spa, on of Iceland´s top favourites with visitors. Another must is the Golden Circle tour which is Iceland´s most popular day tour. The three centerpieces are Thingvellir national park, Geysir and Gullfoss (Golden waterfall). Thingvellir national park, is on Unesco´s World Heritige list for it´s important historical role in Iceland as well as it´s geographical uniqueness.
Off the south coast, Vestmannaeyjar (the Westmann Islands) are reachable by ferry (3 hours from Thorlakshofn) or plane (20 minutes from Reykjavik). Ideal for either a day-trip or a longer stay, Vestmannaeyjar is a particular favourite with bird watchers. The largest puffin colony in the North-Atlantic is in Vestmannaeyjar but the islands are also known for it´s volcanic history.
The town in Heimaey was almost ruined in a sudden eruption in 1973 and the effects are still visible in the town in a project called “Pompei of the North”.
The landscape in the Westmann islands is varied and beautiful. In the seventeenth century the islands were the scene of the so-called Turkish plundering when the “Moors” attacked the coastline, abducted people and brought with them into slavery in Algeria. Other charming villages on the south coast include Stokkseyri and Eyrarbakki with their beautifully preserved old houses, and Vik, the base for cruises through the "natural doorway" through Dyrhólaey cliff, Iceland´s southernmost point and nesting place for puffins and other seabirds.
History and heritage are everywhere in south Iceland, spanning the whole range from the Saga Age farm at Stong and the Njal´s Saga Exhibition Centre at Hvolsvollur, to the old bishop´s seat of Skalholt and the regional folk museum at Skogar, probably the most comprehensive of its kind in the country. From the Icelandic Sagas we know the so-called Oddaverjar, who are named after Oddi chieftain farm in the Rangarvellir area but in ancient times Oddi was a major seat of culture and power. There stood the School of Oddi, which Saemundur the Learned Sigfusson (1056-1133) made famous and the chief dwelling-place of his grandson, Jon Loftsson (1124-1197), the most famous chieftain of the country in his time. Here Snorri Sturluson (1179-1241) grew up. Snorri later moved to Reykholt in west Iceland and wrote the Heimskringla and Snorri’s Edda. The settings of Njal’s Saga, took place in South Iceland, from the ancient manor-houses of Hlidarendi and Bergthorshvoll to Thingvellir where the Althing (Parliament) was founded.
At Skalholt there was a bishopric for centuries where several important churches have been built. At Stong in Thjorsardalur valley ruins of a Saga Age farm which were covered with pumice in the Hekla eruption of 1104 are visible. In 1974 the farm of Stong was reconstructed as the Saga Age Farm which stands in a beautiful hollow under Samsstadamuli in Thjorsardalur valley.
There are large rivers in south Iceland, the longest of them is Thjorsa 210 km long. Together with its tributary Tungnaa provide a great part of the electricity produced in Iceland. Other big rivers include Olfusa river, Markarfljot river, the Jokulsa and Skafta rivers. There are beautiful waterfalls in abundance, first of all Gullfoss (the Golden Falls) in Hvita river, Skogarfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Haifoss and Hjalparfoss waterfalls. All these waterfalls are easily accessible but less known and not as easily reached is the waterfall Dynkur in Thjorsa.
The information presented here comes from variety of sources, some online like South.is while other information is from various books on Iceland.
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