Iceland started forming 20 million years ago after several volcanic eruptions. The Ice Age ended about 10,000 years ago and during that period the fjords, icefalls and valleys were formed. It was settled in the late ninth century by Viking explorers. The language used today is based on Old Norse. By current estmates there are 10,000 waterfalls in this country that is about the size of the state of Kentucky. Skogafoss is one of the prettiest waterfalls. It's on the Skoga River in the south of Iceland and falls off cliffs that eons ago marked the coastline which has now receded about three miles away.
The Great Geysir is a geyser in southwest Iceland. It was the first one ever seen by Europeans and the name was derived from an Icelandic word "geysa" meaning "to gush".
Icelandic horses look more like ponies and are descendants of ponies brought from Norway in the 9th and 10th centuries. They are sturdy five-gaited horses and protected, as no other breed of horses may be introduced into Iceland.
Glaciers make up 11% of Iceland and there are 269 that are specifically named. Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is a fascinating place to explore by boat. Huge icebergs float around after they've broken off from Breidamerkurjokull Glacier.
Gullfoss or Golden Falls is located in the canyon of the Hvita River in southwest Iceland. It averages 5000 cubic feet per second plunging down the fall in the summer.
