Finally I made it to the valley of Geldingardalur. Geldingardalsgos is the official name of this volcano at Fagradalsfjall mountains in Iceland. Just 35 km from Reykjavik, in the valley of Geldingardalur outside of the village of Grindavik. It is possible to come very close to lava (temperatures are unbearable though - my Samsung stopped working due to overheating). The heat burns the face. At one point I thought that my jacket will start burning from heat. Thousands of people (also with children, many elderly, lots of people with dogs) are flocking to this site day and night. Heard Icelandic, German (lots of German photographers with tripods by the lava), Swedish, Polish, Ukrainian, English and other languages spoken on the site. Noise of helicopters, drones and planes swarming the site. The view and the atmosphere are utterly surrealistic, as in some futuristic films. The smell is as with the burnt iron ovens on the trains, as in the railway stations next to trains (the closest what came to my mind). Fire is nothing comparing to the heat intensity of lava. The lava fire has very intense and deep orange colour, nothing like I've ever seen. Another wonder of God´s creation, which inspires with much awe and fear of God. Praise the Lord! And beware...those are the real fires of hell! The experience exceeded all my expectations hundredfolds and left the deepest offprint. It is as if I visited the other world:) A day later I am still the "shock state", cant fix my mind on the other things. It will take some days to recover. Camera - Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, top quality (flagman of photography among mobile phones).

07:31 - Icelandic child spontaneously exclaims to himself in English "Jesus, Christ, Mighty God!" then suddenly turns to my camera and says "Hello" to the viewers of this video. Then continues talking in Icelandic to his father. I found this remarkable as I have no clue whom he was and never asked him to say anything...Pure accident!

To those who write that this is dangerous: It is not so steep as it seems. No way to slide. Unless one is utterly stupid and starts running into the volcano or lava himself. One may hurt one's bottom in the worst case:) Ca 20.000 people visited a site no accidents so far. Unless something new will explode under you but likelihood of that is close to 0. Far more dangerous to drive a car. Just statistically:) Not all things that look scary are dangerous. The only real danger are the poisonous fumes or hikers getting lost on the way to the site (were cases like that before the track had been marked) but rescuers and police, in case of wrong or strong winds, closes the site usuallly. Before it was possible to access the site by several different hiking trails but not anymore. Rescue teams blocked all other pathways. Now its only one "official hiking trail" with "official parking lots". First time, I could not access the site namely bcs of that (was turned away at 6 pm by "quadrocycle rescuers" on the way and told that site closes at 7 pm due to winds). This was my 2nd attempt 2 days later! Wind blew to the opposite side when we were there and rescue teams prevented the access to that part directing people to the "safe wind side". Anyone walking to the wrong "wind side" of the volcano would be caught immediately. Police and rescue teams watches the wind directions all the time. It is all very well organized and controlled. The state authorities monitor closely. A huge car parking had been made within hours, track marked and outfitted with poles and ropes. Rescue teams along the track all the way, ambulances etc...all organized. Tons of helicopters monitoring from above. All phones in the zone get instant sms all the time. Got one such sms in relation to covid distancing when there:) As some foreigners go there violated 5 days quarantine after arrival (was in the news). Bcs of that every car is inspected now, with the first question where are you from and where do you live (due to covid), a form is given to fill, you have to report the exact time when you left and whrn you will be back in the car. Those forms are on front glass of every single car that arrived there! Not so simple as it seems!


#Volcano #Lava #Iceland