20 Amazing Photos of Iceland

The name Iceland conjures up many images: ice, for one, and a climate characterized by the country’s proximity to the Arctic circle; volcanic activity, which stole headlines and grounded planes when the Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted in 2010; and a long list of amazing natural phenomena including glaciers, geysers, geothermal pools, and sometimes the Northern Lights. When we imagine Iceland, perhaps we see the long days of Summer sunlight and Winter darkness that typify such Northern countries. Perhaps we experience the quiet that must overwhelm the geographically remote, least dense nation in Europe. Or, perhaps, we hear the often eerie music produced by renowned Icelandic artists such as Bjork and Sigur Ros.

No matter what, there is undoubtedly a mysterious and seductive aura surrounding Iceland that is brought on by its stunning – and sometimes terrifying – natural wonders. The twenty photographs below capture Iceland in all its guises and seasons. They show the many sides to its personality, from the ice queen it may be in Winter, to the blossoms it may yield in Spring. In every season, and in every image, there is an undeniable beauty, expansiveness and sense of awe, the combination of which has the ability to inspire artists of all mediums.

Emily Fox

Emily Fox is a contributing writer for Creativeoverflow, also works for website builder Wix.com - a free web platform that lets people create quality Flash websites without having to use code.