Caves in Iceland - Caving in Iceland - Lava Tubes & Ice Caves

Because of Iceland’s unique geographical position, it has been graced by some of the world’s most beautiful and exceptional rock formations. Located on the Mid-Atlantic ridge, home to an unrivaled level of volcanic activity, tube caves abound—a result of magma activity in the region. With a guide, these tube caves offer year-round tours and exploration.

Due to Iceland’s climate, certain caves are only available at certain times of the year. The most popular summer cave is Gjábakkahellir Cave, while the most popular winter cave is Leiðarendi Cave. The first is located near Þingvellir, and the second in Bláfjöll.

Tours through these caves are often combined with other activities, the favorites being ATV riding or snorkeling in the area.

One of the major draws of Iceland’s caves is the ability to actually go into a magma chamber. Few other places in the world provide this same opportunity. This chamber is called the Þríhnúkagígur crater and represents an erupted volcano. Now more than 4000 years old, it is dormant and massive, spanning the space of three basketball courts.

The hike into the interior of the Þríhnúkagígur crater is about an hour and a 120 meter cable lift descent into the belly of the volcano, letting out into a chamber that could house the Statue of Liberty. What makes this area so special is that most volcanic eruptions cause magma chambers to collapse. This volcano’s eruption did not, preserving a unique natural formation that most find awe-inspiring.

Some of the most popular caves include:

1. Vatnshellir cave – Located on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, this volcano can only be reached by guided tour. A staircase descends to the mouth of a tall, wide passage that lets out into the cave after a short walk. This cave gets very cold, even during the warm months, so coats, hats, and gloves are recommended. The tour itself is about an hour long.

2. Lofthellir cave – One of the most popular caves in Northern Iceland, this lava cave is also fairly old. It is riddled with incredible ice sculptures and rock formations carved by ancient magma activity. Visit Askja offers guided cave tours at Cave Lofthellir in north Iceland.

3. Búri cave – On the Reykjanes peninsula, this cave was only added to the list of known caves in 2005. It is, by far, the largest cave in Iceland, measuring ten meters high, ten meters at its widest, and over a kilometer long. The world’s deepest lava pit is housed here as well, descending seventeen meters deeper into the earth. Some explorers are put off by the narrow entrance, but once inside, marvel at the sheer size of the cave and the rock formations and ice sculptures. While the ice is at its best during the winter, this cave is open year round. There is a slight climb required to get to the pit, but it is worth the views.

4. Thrihnukagigur cave – Another impressive crater, this time housed in Southwest Iceland, this cave is one of the most unique volcano exploring opportunities in the world. 4000 years of dormancy and no recent activity at all makes this a safe, but exhilarating exploration, descending right into the belly of the volcano. Some compare the incredible rock formations and colors to an elaborate palace. This cave also plays home to a giant magma chamber.

5. Gjábakkahellir cave – This cave is one of the Iceland’s best examples of a magma tube, created as the magma on the surface solidifies as magma continues to travel beneath. The result is a series of beautiful formations and ice sculptures. This cave is about 9000 years old, and is in Thingvellir National Park.

Caves play an important role not just in geographical studies, but also in an understanding of history and biology. Over the years, caves have played home to both humans and animals, and they have strong ties to Icelandic history. With the range of caves in Iceland, there is no better place for a cave adventure or to see some of the most beautiful and unique natural formations in the world.

Mike, Iceland24
© 2014 Iceland24, November 2014

9 things you can do for free in New York

Certainly New York is the home of the hamburger and the game of baseball and there is no other city in the world to offer freebies from first class on a daily basis as it is New York, which is famous for its famous paintings wonderful classical music and green spaces, and if you're a fan of this city and the fear of costs here are a number of places you can visit for free.

Staten Ferry Island

Did you know that you can get a full boat tour of New York Bay, with views Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, while enjoying the quiet atmosphere in the salty breezes? But there is no need for you to reach for your wallet, as the Staten Island Ferry in New York regularly organizes free trips between Lower Manhattan, Staten Island neighborhood. Tables, please visit the Web site siferry.com.

New York Botanical Garden

Open Botanical Garden in New York territory to visitors for free today along every Wednesday, and from 10 to 11:00 every Saturday, you can go to it by subway or the North Metro line from Grand Central Station and walk down the winding paths among the trees and flowering plants, but you should buy there are tickets to get to the plastic or private homes. To learn more about the summer programs at the Botanical Garden, please visit the Web site nybg.org. 

Children's Museum of Art

With the title of a non-traditional in downtown Manhattan, we see children Museum of Art, which inspired the idea for children and parents alike, but it focuses on practical training activities and educational presentations by talented workers. To learn more, please visit the Web site cmany.org. 

Grand Central Terminal (GCT)

Is a passenger station in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States of America is the largest train station in the world in terms of the number of platforms, and if you're lucky and I visited the station on a sunny day will hear the time to watch the sun, a bright giant building from the inside and listen liquefied walking and entertainment inside the station.

Central Park

Central Park offers every day in summer activities such as fishing and guided tours of the gardens and spaces and wild concerts and the theater season, and more than that, but, the best way to enjoy in Central Park is that roam in the park with someone you love, and discover the special charming places, bridges, and sculptures whenever you go public. Visit the official site of the park on centralparknyc.org 

Museum of Modern Art

On Friday, from four o'clock to eight in the evening, free entry in the Museum of Modern Art, including all exhibits, films, also enjoys the group that includes some of the most famous works of Van Gogh, Mondrian, Picasso, Chagall and other artists of the 19th and 20th century. To learn more about the museum programs, please visit the Web site .moma.org

Summer Theater

If you have a little time? What about the free concert? There are around 100 free display in public parks in all five districts in New York City? Summer theater arrange an incredible range of entertainment for free each year, including music, comedy For more information, please visit the Web site of cityparksfoundation.org 

New York Public Library

The library is not just a collection of books only despite the presence of a large group, because the main New York Public Library building at the corner of the street 42 also hosts many of the free art exhibitions with historical materials and a wide range of drawings, paintings, maps, manuscripts, books bound to know the schedule of shows and events Special please visit the Web site nypl.org.

National Museum of the American Indian

National Museum of Indians Alomirkaa located in downtown Hamilton, the museum is devoted to the history and culture of Native American peoples, and in addition to the permanent exhibitions and provides regular music and artistic shows Okhry.lmarafh more, please visit the Web site nmai.si.edu 

Ten steps to protect your devices while traveling

How can yoy be sure that mobile devices will not be exposed to piracy in the next time you step out of the house; it has become accustomed to communicate with the Internet, both inside cafes, airports, or on planes and trains. However, the problem is that we forget how much we are exposed to security threats.
 This is due to the transformation of mobile devices to more complex devices, as they are dealing with the same e-mail, passwords, and security information.


With the growing popularity of some devices have become a favorite for hackers target, Five years ago devices (NBC) of (Microsoft's) most vulnerable to attacks, as opposed to the (Apple), according to Nocera, who added, "but in a period and a half years, we have seen a change and targeting hardware system (Android), and (iPhone). We expect that in 2014 the majority of these devices are targeted, as quoted by the magazine (BBC World) e. "

But the good news is that it will not be difficult to protect these devices at low cost, and the protection of the information they contain, and that the reform process will be easy, and here are ten tips to help keep Ojhzaktkm during travel:

1. Make sure you update your program, because "each version of the software patched a number of security breaches." It is preferable before embarking on any journey, or during every two weeks, do disclose the company producing the software site to make sure the availability of new versions. If her grandmother and download it, unless you find the objections of the first people who used it.
2. Use passwords (secret) strong. And be sure to use a combination of letters, numbers and special characters consisting of 8 or more characters, and should avoid the use of Alqamosah words, but the use of abbreviations for the first Kalahrv favorite songs and restaurants. And change the password several times, at least once every six months. If you are not witty enough to compose a special word of your passing, there are programs such as the "robo form" RoboForm do the job.

3. Do not change the controls and security arrangements in the majority of pre-existing Android phones browsers, iMac, iPhone and Blackberry, as Nocera notes that they are good and honest, including enough.

4. avoid public wireless networks, such as non-coding "Wi - Fi" that do not require verification of identity, or a password before entering it, which means the possibility of access to everyone, including the pirates. In some cases, the hackers to install their own network to the rhythm of the innocent in Hrkha. As it is encrypted networks that require a password to enter it, and that you may find in hotels and cafes. But such networks are two different types of security: WEP and WPA. The latter is the safest. But even encrypted networks have its dangers, the bad guys may be able to access the encrypted networks at the hotel, for example, so you should be careful here, too.