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Clockwise from above: Gljúfrabúi Waterfall; Reynisfjara Beach, South Iceland’s most famous; Thingvellir National Park, which sits in a rift caused by the separation of two tectonic plates; Secret Lagoon; Hikers in South Iceland; Geysir geothermal area; Basalt Sea Stacks at Reynisfjara Beach.
pandemic under control by meticulously tracking cases. Today, U.S. citizens can visit if they’re fully vaccinated or can provide documentation of a prior infection. Upon arrival, visitors must take a PCR test and shelter in place until negative test results are received (typically within 6 to 24 hours). After that, you’re free to roam.
DENNIS WELSH
NATURAL BEAUTY ABOUNDS
The South Coast offers epic waterfalls, including Gljúfrabúi: Concealed by a cliff, it often sits unnoticed next to the tourist-favored, 200foot Seljalandsfoss waterfall. To get there you’ll wade through a shallow stream into a mossy cave, where gushing water theatrically cascades into a small pool lit as if by a spotlight. Or visit the mighty Gullfoss falls—unique in that you can take in their glory from above instead of below. But Iceland offers more than just waterfalls. For bubbling mud pots and boiling hot springs, make your way to the Geysir geothermal area or try Thingvellir National Park (thingvellir.is/en), a UNESCO World Heritage Site that marks the place where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet and drift apart. If you skipped the Blue Lagoon, stop at the nearby Secret Lagoon (secretlagoon.is) to dip in a lesscrowded, man-made pool fed by hot springs.
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5/28/21 8:57 AM