Inside the Volcano (Thrihnukagigur) in Iceland

#Inside_Volcano_Iceland

The 1.7 km (1 mile) walk to the base camp begins after being dropped off from a 30 minute drive from Reykjavik
Now this adventure is not cheap ($340US) which includes 1 or 2 guides,  but there is no other place where you get to go inside a volcano plus experience nature in this manner

Iceland averages  an volcanic eruption every 3 to 4 years because of the Eurasian / North American plates meeting here. 
It is home to over 130 volcanoes and the active ones erupt regularly which often are under glaciers which are called subglacial eruptions. 
 

Some of the things you learn during our hike; the rocks (because they are porous) act like a filtration system  for the drinking water of the City of Reykjavik 

The lava fields during our trek

Thrihnukagigur translated means Three Peaks Crater and was discovered in 1974 by cave explorer Arni B. Stefansson which then opened itself up to tourism 2012

The Base Camp that was airlifted by helicopter as no motorized vehicles are allowed on the grounds

The last 100m or 350 feet of elevation

An open elevator system that bounces a bit at the cone side to side to be aware (think like a high rise window wash system)  and it takes around 5 minutes to get to the bottom.
 Then we have half hour to explore

It is only 4C (37F) once we got to the floor & we are going down 212 meters (700 feet)
Think of the Statue of Liberty fitting inside easily

The base is huge as i tried to highlight this by including that person in the corner of the photo
In comparison it is three full-sized basketball courts connected together

The magma normally would fill the chamber thus sealing itself but as you can see it scorched the earth on the way out which would of happened 4000 years ago when Thrihnukagigur last erupted

As you can see the floor is unstable so needless to say proper footwear is a must plus depending on outside weather condition is how you dress for the hike to the volcano

In 2015 a band from Iceland called Kaleo plus 14 crew went to the magma chamber and recorded a live rendition of their song;
Way Down We Go

When your down here you really feel how insignificant we are as humans and the awesomeness of Nature
I should not have to say this but i will,,,,,,you cannot take any of the rocks in your pockets as you leave

Another group descending our way.....then we return from the Centre of the Earth

As i leave the volcano you can see not a lot of room to get through the cone opening

Back to the meeting point at the ski cabin  where there is complimentary coffee or tea as you wait for your transport