Iceland: Day 9 - Kálfaströnd nature park
July 3, 2004
Just south of Dimmuborgir on the lake road is the Kálfaströnd nature park. Stack-like formations and tiny islets in the crystal-clear waters here attract birds and relatively dense woodland along the shore offers good cover for watching them.
In summer, Mývatn is one of the best places in northern Europe to see ducks. Two species found here occur only in North America and Iceland: Barrow's goldeneye stay at Mývatn year-round and are very common, and the harlequin duck with its unmistakable chestnut, white and blue plumage which is seen more on streams and rivers than in the lake.
Another common duck found here is the eider duck which most people know from their eider down pillows and duvets. Collecting the down is a small but profitable business in Iceland.
A local specialty is the great northern diver (aka loon) and it's red-throated variety but we didn't see either of them here.
Other common varieties of ducks found here are the mallard, merganser, goosander, and a number of others.
purple crane's-bill
water avens & alpine bartsia
Stack-like formations in the lake.
The water is crystal-clear and tropical looking.
Some duck families out for a swim.
A little bird shows us the way.
wild pansies & garden angelica
The view to the south.
A pseudocrater in Mývatn and snow covered mountains in the background.
Anyone up for a swim?
alpine gentians
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