The Bay of Smokes - Iceland

Reykjavik means 'bay of smokes' in Icelandic. It was back in 874 that the town was first settled by the Icelandic colonists due to the steam produced by the thermal sources. It is the most northerly capital in the world (bar Nuuk in Greenland) being situated further than 64° latitude, very close to the Arctic Circle (66° latitude). Once a small fishing village, the Icelandic capital is today a large agglomeration whose architecture mixes coloured-roofed houses with the modern headquarters of businesses.

Including the Reykjanes peninsula, the capital numbers around 200,000 inhabitants, or roughly 60% of the Icelandic population. Surrounded by volcanoes and thermal sources of hot water, Reykjavik is the perfect base from which to go and discover the wild lands of Iceland, a true open air A-Z of geography. Nestled in a sheltered bay, the town possesses a small historic centre and an interior lake which can be visited easily in several hours.

Texte et photos : Julien Nessi.

  Reykjavik's most famous sculpture

Geysers in Geysir