Our A Level Geography students and Chester the Geography department mascot, enjoyed a trip of a lifetime to Iceland with a packed itinerary full of unique experiences, including live action Geography with the Reykjanes Peninsula eruption taking place during their visit.
Day one included arriving in a rather chilly Iceland, visiting the Perlan Observation Deck in the 7 Wonders of Iceland Centre, underground exploration of Ice Caves and returning to the accommodation to witness the incredible views of the eruption roughly 42km away.
Students managed to explore Tectonic theory and Geothermic Carbon Capture in practice at the Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Station on day two. They also learned about the latest Orca capture programme; turning emission gases into rock! Our Carmel Geographers set off to enjoy breath-taking views of Gullfoss Waterfall on the White River, the biggest waterfall in Europe, to experience the power of the fluvial systems and how glacial melt water has carved into the landscape and then on to The Great Geysir.
After a quick pit stop to enjoy some lunch and hand feed some Icelandic horses (Red Night, Prince & Princess), our Geographers braved the extreme Icelandic weather to explore the Þingvellir National Park, where the Constructuve Mid-Atlantic Ridge plate boundary is slowly ripping Iceland apart.
Day three started with a tour of the South Shore visiting Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, afterwards the Geographers completed a 3-hour Glacier Walk ascending the Sólheimajökull Glacier. Sadly, after visiting this location over the past few year, the department has witnessed first-hand the retreat of the glacier as our climate gets warmer!
Of course, it wouldn’t be an iconic trip to Iceland without witnessing the waves crashing against the basalt columns used to film coastal scenery in the Games of Thrones series.
On their last day in Iceland, our Geographers enjoyed a unique experience; lava tubing, not far from the current eruption. Alas like all good things, the Geography Iceland Expedition finally came to a end with visits to the Eldborg Crater, Lake Kleifarvatn viewpoint and the Seltun Geothermal Area with its solfataras, fumaroles and mud pots, before the ‘Bridge between Continents’, which symbolises the constructive plate boundary rift between the Eurasian & North American Plate Boundaries. Topping it all off with an aerial view of the eruption as the group departed Iceland.
Head of Geography, Keiron Vesey said “Iceland never fails to disappoint and the Geographers were a total privilege to work with, from start to finish.”
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