Basalt and turquoise: Stuðlagil Canyon, East Iceland

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There are places on Earth that no photo or video can truly capture - you just have to see them in person to really feel their beauty and wonder. But there are also places that actually look better in pictures.

What we think of a place is super personal - everyone has different tastes, and that’s totally fine. Today I want to show you a spot in Iceland that, while undeniably beautiful, I personally find a bit overrated. It’s definitely worth seeing, but for me, it’s more of a one-time visit.

I’m talking about Stuðlagil Canyon in the eastern Iceland - a place that’s become pretty popular lately, especially online. The basalt columns and turquoise water look absolutely stunning in photos all over social media. So I thought, “Okay, I have to see this place!”

In reality, the canyon is actually pretty small (compared to other natural wonders) - it’s a narrow, rocky gorge decorated with incredible basalt columns. And to be fair, from the right angle, it’s super impressive! But from a distance, it kind of feels like a tiny amusement park packed with tourists.

You can tell that the infrastructure is trying to catch up with the popularity of this place. New, safer paths and viewing platforms are currently under construction. The parking lot on the south side is way too small – it’s best to come in the morning, because around noon, things turn into a comlete mess. I’m not sure what the situation is like with the parking on the other side.

Anyway, enough of my complaining - that’s just how I felt, and for someone else, this place might be the eighth wonder of the world.

Now let me talk about what I did love about it!

First off, the combo of the basalt rocks and turquoise water - you just can’t ignore it, it’s stunning. We were lucky the water had that amazing color the day we visited. About 52 km upstream, there’s a massive dam that releases water from time to time. When that happens, the river turns a muddy brown - not quite as magical.

I’m also obsessed with the textures of different rocks. I honestly think nature makes the most beautiful designs, and basalt is just perfectly shaped. There’s a harmony to it that’s so mesmerizing - you can’t stop looking. The canyon walls feel insanely tall because of the narrow, almost perfectly straight columns. Standing in that tight space, you feel like you’ve stepped into another world - totally cut off from reality.

I especially loved this little nook between the rocks where the river didn’t flow. The ground there was covered in grass and cotton grass, and it looked like something out of a fairy tale. Hardly any tourists stopped there, since most people were heading straight for the water.

What else did I love? Honestly, I was blown away by the journey itself - getting to the canyon and then traveling further inland. Eastern Iceland is absolutely gorgeous - the coastline and the interior. I even thought, if I ever wanted to move somewhere else, I could totally live here.

Traveling around the Iceland and into its interior made me realize just how diverse it is. It’s a relatively small country, but you could explore it endlessly!

Later that same day, we reached another canyon – and that was the real deal. Absolutely magnificent, pure, and wild. No "but" this time! 

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