Top 10 Sights in Iceland - See the South Coast and Beyond

Iceland, the Land of Fire and Ice, has recently been through days as bleak as Mordor. The implosion of its credit-driven economy, banking collapses and an IMF rescue have all been tough blows to one of the most well-educated, sophisticated and fiercely proud nations on Earth. Yet the awe-inspiring beauty of Iceland and the famous tenacity and resilience of its people and culture remain. This hub showcases some of the riches that Iceland packages have to offer - not just the "Golden Circle" tourist classics but the treasures that lie around the Ring Road, Iceland's 832 mile artery.

Iceland is famed for its stunning natural landscape of black volcanic beaches, cold deserts and waterfalls that majestically spring from the green earth.

"You can still see the old sea-cliffs, marooned high above miles of fertile coastal plain. They’re still there, tall, bleak and stranded, a Maginot Line against an attack that would never come.

We flew out to Heimaey, the Pompeii of the north, where the lava flow smothered the town like a python. A few white skeletons of buildings are still poking out of the black earth. Who knew the solid, material world beneath our feet could be so fickle, so fleeting? This land feels on the edge of all things, much closer to the darker, older world of the Viking sagas. This is a place where islands can appear from the waves in a single night, spitting bright fire like dragons".

- James Rozel

1. The Tjornin in Reykjavik. This marvellous small lake (literally a "pond" or "Tjorn" in Icelandic) is a marvel of natural beauty in the heart of the world's most northerly capital. It demonstrates the power and presence of the wilderness even in the only true urban environment that Iceland offers.The walk around the lake is bracing and refreshing at the height of summer, yet warm springs keep it ice free even in winter's depths. The Reykjavik City Hall is perched on one corner, an uncompromisingly modernist design that floats like a silver spaceship above the water. At the far end of the lake is Reykjavik Airport, which allows local flights to land right in the center of Iceland's splendid capital.

2. Reykjavik rooftops from the Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral. This majestic cathedral rises like basalt rock columns of the city streets, as if it was built by giants of old. Yet the Hallgrimskirkja Lutheran cathedral does not date from time immemorial, but construction began in 1937 and was completed in 1986.The panoramic 360-degree views of the cityscape are stunning and the uniquely Icelandic colourful roofs of the city give the feeling of a fantasia to old Reykjavik. The air is sharp and crisp with an incredible clarity that feels alien to anyone from America or Europe. Reykjavik, founded by Ingolfur Arnarson in 874 and literally translated as "smoky bay", is a jewel in the roster of the world's most pristine cities. A photograph from the cathedral tower is displayed below.

3. The Blue Lagoon. Tourist haven and cliche it may be, but immersion in this vibrant, healing and warm water is a famous Icelandic tradition. Rich in silica and sulfur, the Blue Lagoon is one of the purest and most enticing bathing experiences in the world, even though it is actually warmed by the outflow from a geothermal power station. Quintessential Iceland.

4. The Gullfoss and the Geysir. The "Golden Falls" is Europe's champion in the roll call of the world's most magnificent waterfalls.Unfettered and splendid in a five step cascade, the falls explode with rainbows and are immortalised on a million postcards. The nearby Strokkur geyser is as reliable as a clock,bursting into a 65 ft plume of steam every three to five minutes. The now dormant Great Geysir is the original "geyser": Iceland defined the word and still offers the finest examples in the world.

5. Pingvellir. Here, where two continents meet - the American and the Eurasian continental plates - a rift valley is formed. On these bleak hills the Icelandic parliament first met in distant, dark ages and the "law-speaker" stood on a rock and recited the fledgling nation's laws from memory. Few countries have as unique and profoundly resilient history as this nation of Iceland, in this remote land at the end of all things.

6. Landmannalaugar. Imagine a journey into a hinterland so barren, a landscape so bleak that it defies imagination. This is the other-world, of fumaroles and gorges and mountain tops, that greets you at Landmannalaugar.

7. The Westman Islands. Here creation literally continues.The volcanic island of Surtsey rose above the waves on 14 November 1963 and reached a size of one square mile by 1967. Meanwhile an eruption smothered the town of Heimaey,which remains half-buried, a northern Pompeii. The important entrance to the fishing harbour was at risk,but through the energy of the inhabitants - and some luck - the lava flow never closed the mouth of the port. Take a boat trip around this splendid island to experience Iceland's finest archipelago. Founded by Irish slaves and African pirates,the turbulent history of the Westman islands matches the savagery and beauty of the landscape. Puffins abound.

8. Jokulsarlon. Here the Icelandic ice cap melts into the frigid waters of the dark North Atlantic. Icebergs float past like clouds, translucent and blue ice crashing into the fierce waves and wind. A boat trip to this glacial lagoon is a sublime experience and many will recognise it from the James Bond classic "A View To A Kill". Seals pop their heads above the waves like strange astronauts.

9. Skogafoss Waterfall. This is one of the quintessentially perfect waterfalls of the world. It has everything - verdant green scenery, a cold dark plunge pool and an unstoppable torrent of icy pure water. Magnificent.

10. South coast beaches. Jet black shores, ice-cold surf and miles of black sand. Forlorn lighthouses and basalt rock columns. Unforgettable rock formations such as the "Three Trolls" near Vik. The south coast of Iceland is a miraculous journey. Follow the Ring Road east towards Höfn.

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