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Region of Iceland
Photo: (WT-en) Mike Schiraldi at en.wikivoyage-old, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
South Iceland is the region of Iceland along the North Atlantic Ocean. South Iceland's charm lies in its many large and impressive waterfalls and glaciers, unique geology and fascinating medieval history. The eastern part of South Iceland is dominated by the glacier Vatnajökull and the water systems linked to it. Big rivers flow from the glacier in all directions and have created large flood planes along the southern coast. The glacier and some of the surrounding areas form Vatnajökull National Park, the biggest national park in Iceland.
By plane
Mainland South Iceland is not served by any flights, domestic or international.
By bus
Scheduled buses run along most of South Iceland operated by Sterna Travel. Reykjavík Excursions also has some scheduled services and a number of guided tours.
By bus
As in the rest of Iceland, public transport can be quite difficult to navigate and cannot take you everywhere.
By boat
A ferry called Herjólfur, operated by Eimskip , runs between the mainland and Vestmannaeyjar.
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Reykjavík · Regional · RKV
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this is the most popular national park in Iceland and a UNESCO World Heritage site, approx. 40 km east of Reykjavík. The valley is mentioned in many famous Icelandic sagas and is where one of the oldest parliamentary institutions of the world, the Althing, was founded in the year 930. Tectonic activity can be clearly seen here: the continental drift of North-American and European shelf plates has identified and scarred this area for thousands of years. The valley is the result of this activity and is getting wider every year. Free parking.
a rural area in the north-western corner of South Iceland. Home to some of the most famous tourist destinations in Iceland including Gullfoss and Geysir.
one of the great jewels of Iceland in the Southern Highlands is Landmannalaugar. The area's incredible natural beauty and extreme contrasts have been attracting visitors for centuries. It's a mountainous area rich in minerals, which results in strong colours, and its impressive volcanic geology brings you to massive, old lava fields and natural hot springs. There's a mountain hut operated by Ferðafélag Íslands, and a simple, rocky camp ground is there as well. There is a simple mountain shop/café where snacks and coffee can be bought, as well as fishing license to the nearby lakes, where you can catch mountain trout. There is also one horse rental operated by Hraunhestar, ranging from 2 to 10 hours in length through the spectacular valleys and many marked hiking trails, one leading all the way south to Þórsmörk.
Jökulsárlón is a large glacial lake in southeast Iceland where you can take boat tours to see the ever-changing ice formations. It is part of Vatnajökull National Park.
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