Iceland

Globe Trekker. Situated just below the North Pole, Iceland and Greenland are neighbors in the north Atlantic. The harsh arctic climate and the high cost of living discourage visitors, but those who do come discover some of the most breathtaking and undisturbed scenery in the world. Traveler Ian Wright begins his journey in Iceland's capital Reykjavik. He then hitches a ride to the natural wonders of Gulfoss and Geysir. Moving northeast he travels to Greenland, the world's largest island, where he takes an arctic safari to end his journey at the Arctic Circle. Along the way... $_$_START_LIST ? Taste the local delicacy - fermented shark. ? Take a dog-sledge trip across snowfields. ? Join some Eskimos for dinner. ? Learn the native language. ? Spend the night in an ice hole. $_$_END_LIST

DVD. 7 Days. 52 Minutes. Iceland is an island born of fire and ice with white glaciers, black beaches and green meadows:a land of geysers, waterfalls and volcanoes. Reykjavik is set amid a fascinating landscape, a metropolis on the outermost edge of civilization and the world's northernmost capital city. A little outside the city is an attraction that is a meeting place for one and all, The Blue Lagoon, the largest bath tub in the world!The mineral water it contains has a temperature of forty degrees centigrade and the milky-blue pool has been proven to possess beneficial healing qualities. Southeast of The Blue Lagoon is Hveragerdi, which is set within an idyllic valley. Due to its protected location and numerous thermal springs, in 1929 a garden city originated there and within its many greenhouses grow vegetables, fruit and exotic flowers. Amid the historic Pingvellir Plains, once the location of ancient gatherings and where justice was administered, is the ?xararfoss Waterfall, the island's oldest Man made device that was used to supply the region with drinking water. On the southern tip of Iceland is the small village of Skogar. The interior of the houses are comfortably furnished and the privately owned Homeland Museum gives a good insight into the daily life of bygone times. Large stones support the wooden sides of the houses, the roofs and remaining walls of which are protected by grass-covered earth. In this area is one of the island's most gigantic and highest waterfalls, Skogafoss, that rages 60 meters into the depths below. The mist above the water cloaks the sight of this mighty natural wonder whose water thunders down across the cliffs of the ancient shoreline with awesome power. Iceland is a fascinating world of water, fire and ice and full of breathtaking beauty and overwhelming contrast. It is one of the last natural paradises on Earth.

DVD. On Tour. 26 Minutes. The journey through the active volcanic landscape of Iceland features many breathtaking sights. Reykjavik, also known as `Smokey Bay', is one of the smallest and cleanest capitals in the world and the northernmost capital on the Planet. Many of the houses of the Old Town are protected monuments such as its oldest building that dates back to 1751. The fishing industry plays an important role in Iceland's economy and accounts for around 80 percent of its export trade. Whale watching is the ideal way to experience the giants of the deep, mainly mink, humpback and fin whales. The Blue Lagoon is the country's most popular bathing location with turquoise water at a temperature of 40?C surrounded by lava and its water so full of minerals that it has a healing effect. With its many glaciers, volcanoes and rivers Iceland is an Eldorado for those with an interest in geology. The mighty Gullfoss Waterfall hurls down into the abyss below while the Sk?gafoss, one of Iceland's highest waterfalls, plunges 60 metres across the cliffs. With its numerous waterfalls Iceland is well endowed with large natural energy reserves. Vik is located in a picturesque valley and although the winds there are extremely fierce the village is a popular starting point for walking trips. Measuring 8,300 square kilometres, the Vatnaj?kull Glacier is the largest in Europe. Remarkably, each of Europe's other glaciers would fit within it. Iceland is a land of geysers, volcanoes, lava deserts, waterfalls and green meadows. A natural fantasy of water, fire and ice!

DVD. Vista Point. 26 Minutes. Iceland is an island born of fire and ice with white glaciers, black beaches and green meadows: a land of geysers, waterfalls and volcanoes. Reykjavik is set amid a fascinating landscape, a metropolis on the outermost edge of civilisation and the world's northernmost capital city. A little outside the city is an attraction that is a meeting place for one and all, The Blue Lagoon, the largest bath tub in the world! The mineral water it contains has a temperature of forty degrees centigrade and the milky-blue pool has been proven to possess beneficial healing qualities. Southeast of The Blue Lagoon is Hveragerdi that is set within an idyllic valley. Due to its protected location and numerous thermal springs, in 1929 a garden city originated there and within its many greenhouses grow vegetables, fruit and exotic flowers. The small coastal picturesque village of Vik with its few houses and around three hundred inhabitants is located in a valley close to a bay. The mystical looking rocks seem to protect this place that has the most rainfall in what is an already rainy region and above which the rain clouds are often alive with both thunder and lightning. Iceland is a fascinating world of water, fire and ice and full of breathtaking beauty and overwhelming contrast. It is one of the last natural paradises on Earth.

DVD. Equitrekking. 30 Minutes. From hot pots to horse drives, Equitrekking's Emmy nominated host and equestrian travel expert Darley Newman experiences the smooth gait of the Icelandic horses on rides with farmers and an Icelandic champion rider, traveling to lava fields, lakes and waterfalls in Equitrekking Iceland. Riding through the varied landscapes of Iceland is truly an otherworldly experience. Equitrekking begins the journey with a short lesson in how to ride the small, but mighty Icelandic horse, before trekking on horseback through the lava fields and over the diverse terrain that the Icelandic horse is bred to conquer. Viewers learn about the history and personality of this intelligent, good-natured horse, upon which Icelanders have depended throughout history. Darley explores the special five gaits that these purebred Viking Horses can master, including the smooth, glide of the tolt. Traveling with local farmers, Darley takes a traditional, fast-paced horse drive, as she drives a herd of fifty horses to Gullfoss, Iceland's "Golden Waterfalls." Next, Darley rides through a stunning area of deep red pseudocraters that are more than 4600 years old with Iceland's most famous rider, nicknamed Diddi, nicknamed the Golden Rider. Finally, Darley checks out the thriving nightlife in colorful, downtown Reykjavik. Rich history and wonderful culture are all part of the adventures in Iceland, the Pearl of the North. Emmy nominated host and producer Darley Newman takes viewers to the best destinations to go horseback riding, exploring with local people to learn about history, culture and stunning wildlife and natural surroundings. Experience equestrian travel as expert Darley takes you riding on the beaches of Southern Spain, in a northern California Redwood Forest, the rainforest in Costa Rica or through the lush, green countryside of Ireland. For both arm-chair travelers and those preparing to take their equestrian adventure, Equitrekking transports viewers to exotic destinations on this Emmy Award winning travel series.

DVD. Nature Wonders. 10 Minutes. A few kilometres south of Reykjahl?d, a tourist centre on Lake M?vatn, is one of the most unique and fascinating landscapes in Iceland. The Dimmuborgir, or 'dark castles', are the impressive result of the volcanic past of this unique island set amid the North Atlantic. The remarkable lava formations of Dimmuborgir originated around 2,300 years ago. The area of lava that had previously hardened, remained as tall sections of lava with high walls that contained large fissures and holes. The 'castles' of Dimmuborgir have created a good deal of interest. According to various legends, these 'stone buildings' are the home of several incredible beings. Indeed, it is not surprising that the Icelanders once believed that numerous trolls lived here, as the lava sculptures had taken on such fascinating forms. The lava landscape of Dimmuborgir that extends for several square kilometres is unique in the world. It is an impressive reminder of Iceland's volcanic origins.

DVD. Global Treasures. 10 Minutes. Lush green surrounds the historic buildings of the remote farm settlement of Glaumbaer deep in the north of Iceland. Glaumbaer's turf houses were built in the late 19th century but the origin of the farm dates back far longer. Many of its stone structures were built by the Vikings who lived in the region during the 11th century. As was common in most of Iceland's former farming communities, Glaumbaer contained several buildings that were located around a central building. The `badstofa' served as a working, living and sleeping space and was also the location of the communal kitchen, one of the most popular places to be in the harsh cold of winter. In addition to the important archaeological finds that have recently been made, the former ancient community of farmers and Vikings that once lived here no doubt still contains many a secret yet to be discovered.

DVD. Nature Wonders. 10 Minutes. Thanks to its unspoiled scenery and magical combination of fire and ice, Iceland possesses one of the most extraordinary natural landscapes in the world. Even in summer, vast parts of the country are continuously dominated by ice and snow and its huge plateau glaciers cover around 11 percent of the entire island. The beautiful and dreamlike glacial lake of J?kuls?rl?n, located on Iceland's east coast most likely dates back to the last Ice Age. Since then, this glacial lagoon and its surrounding scenery have developed into one of the most popular and most visited tourist destinations on the island. With its huge, slowly drifting icebergs, the J?kuls?rl?n region is highly reminiscent of the dramatic scenery of the Arctic. Massive icebergs break away from the edge of the glacier and plunge into the 160 metre deep J?kuls?rl?n while at the same time, a large number of sea birds circle overhead. Despite the seemingly lifeless and hostile environment, wildlife still manages to survive in this surreal environment. Situated on the southern edge of Lake Vatnaj?kul, J?kuls?rl?n is not only the largest glacial lake in Iceland but due to its dramatic icebergs, it has become a symbol of the beauty of a fascinating area of unspoiled nature and perpetual ice.

DVD. Nature Wonders. 10 Minutes. M?vatn, or `Midge Lake', is located in the north of Iceland. It really lives up to its name, as in the summer months, huge swarms of midges inhabit the lake and its surroundings. Fortunately, few of the midges sting. The lake has an average depth of around two and a half metres, surprisingly shallow but nevertheless, a fine habitat for salmon and trout. The geographical proximity of M?vatn to the Krafla volcanic system is obvious in the many small lava islands that protrude from the water. The once barren lava fields, close to the lake, are now covered with lush vegetation and meadows now cover the cold masses of spent lava. M?vatn has become an important refuge for Iceland's indigenous wildlife and this is mainly due to the large numbers of midges that inhabit the lake, the insects provide a good source of food for a large variety of rare water fowl. The surroundings of M?vatn reflect the large variety of volcanic activity that exists in Iceland and makes it totally unique. Despite its barren nature, the landscape possesses an original atmosphere that is today seen less and less.

DVD. Nature Wonders. 10 Minutes. Bubbling pools of mud announce our arrival in one of the most fascinating areas in Iceland, the Solfataren Fields of Namaskard, in the Myvatn region. In the plains of Namaskard, the relentless volcanic activity of Iceland is plain to see. Indeed, this island originated due to extraordinary geological phenomena. A `hot spot', a porous location within the earth's crust that features powerful volcanic activity, gradually forced the land mass that is now Iceland through the surface of the ocean. Just a few kilometres from the Solfataren area of Namaskard, the geothermal energy of the Earth has, since 1977, been harnessed by a small power station. Iceland has 250 thermal areas with a total of around 600 large springs. In addition to creating electricity, the hot steam is used for both domestic and industrial heating. The various colors and patterns on the ground are worth a closer look. The biological and chemical processes of the Solfataren Fields create a myriad of new and impressive images. For geologists, this island in the North Atlantic is a veritable paradise and few other places on earth feature as much volcanic activity. The mysterious Solfataren Fields of Namaskard are an impressive reminder of how Iceland was created and of the awesome energy that lies beneath the surface of the Earth.

DVD. Nature Wonders. 10 Minutes. Along the geothermal zone of the Hv?t? River, around 80 kilometres from Iceland's capital of Reykjavik, is the great Strokkur Geyser. It is located in the southwestern section of the island and attracts much interest. At first glance, the waters of the Strokkur Geyser appear benign, only steam and gurgling water indicate its slumbering, subterranean power. The first signs of an imminent eruption are indicated by small ripples in the water that grow increasingly active. Soon a 30 metre high jet of water shoots up into the sky, an amazing fountain of steam and boiling water. In 1928, the first houses in Reykjavik were heated by geothermal energy. Since then, the harnessing of this natural source of energy has been exploited to the full and now almost all of Reykjavik is powered by geothermal energy. With its sparse and unique landscape, Iceland has managed to retain its fascinating natural splendor right up to the present day and its remarkable geysers are one of the world's most spectacular natural phenomena.

DVD. Nature Wonders. 10 Minutes. Large areas of Iceland are still covered by massive layers of ice and snow. Inland, the Ice Age seems to have survived until the present day. The mighty Vatnaj?kull Glacier extends across a huge area. Covering more than 8,300 square kilometres, it is the largest glacier in Europe. The ice is hundreds of metres thick in this gigantic glacial system that covers an area that is larger than all the glaciers in the Alps put together. Entire mountain ranges have been covered by the ice masses of the Vatnaj?kull. The island's active volcanoes have frequently caused the sudden melting of whole glacial areas, sometimes with extremely dangerous consequences. In 1996, a wave of molten glacial ice flowed into a large section of an important traffic route on Iceland's south coast and thus threatened the entire infrastructure of the island. In some areas, the gigantic glacial surface of the Vatnaj?kull has been torn apart leaving behind crevices that are several hundred metres deep. The Vatnaj?kull is far more than just a relic of the last Ice Age, it is one of the most impressive natural wonders in Europe!

DVD. Nature Wonders. 10 Minutes. Iceland has one of the most natural landscapes in Europe. In addition to its famous geysers, fire and lava spitting volcanoes and mighty glaciers, this remote island in the North Atlantic has a large number of magnificent waterfalls. The spectacle of the untamed torrents of the Dettifoss that constantly plunge to the depths below, is one of the most impressive natural spectacles in Iceland. T he vast masses of water that flow through this waterfall come from the large glacial Jokuls? ? Fj?llum River. The Dettifoss Waterfall contains more water than any other in Europe. It is 100 metres wide and in summer, 1,500 cubic metres of water per second flow through it. This glacial river that flows through northern Iceland also contains large quantities of pebbles and stones and the loud thundering of its raging torrents and the great clouds of fine mist above it leave a lasting impression of the natural power of nature on anyone who sees it. The Godafoss, one of Iceland's most famous waterfalls that plunges down in two cascades, is located in the Myvatn region, and is thought by many to be a geological wonder. The rivers have shaped this country almost as much as its volcanoes and the ice of its glaciers. There is no doubt at all that the waterfalls in the north of Iceland are one of the most spectacular natural wonders in this unique and fascinating land.

DVD. Nature Wonders. 10 Minutes. Iceland is an abundance of exciting natural landscapes. The south of this island, set amid the North Atlantic, is particularly famous for its remarkable waterfalls. The Gullfoss, in the Haukadalur Valley, is certainly one of the most famous and most beautiful and is one of Iceland's main tourist attractions. The wild torrents of the Hvit? originate at the Langj?kull Glacier that covers an area of 950 square kilometres and is the second largest glacier in Iceland. When visiting the Seljalandsfoss, it is necessary to wear waterproof clothing. If there is a strong wind, it can blow the spray from the waterfall onto nearby spectators. Those who come here are almost hypnotized by the racing water, most of which comes from the melting ice of two large glacial systems, the Eyjafjallaj?kull and the Myrdalsj?kull, which have shaped the landscape of this Icelandic region. Nowhere else in the world has as many magnificent waterfalls as does this volcanic island located in the North Atlantic. The untamed force of the natural elements here and its mighty curtains of water make Iceland one of the last great natural wonders on Earth!

DVD. Profilm. 30 Minutes From the best-selling "Iceland's Favourite Places" DVD series, "Reykjavik and The Golden Circle" is a wonderful, user-friendly DVD exploring some of the most popular travel destination in Iceland's south-west region. Reykjavik is the northernmost capital of the world and has a vibrant cosmopolitan air to it, yet some of the countries most spectacular natural wonders are in close proximity. "The Golden Circle" is the most popular day tour from Reykjavik, with an amazing diversity of places, including the ancient parliament site of Thingvellir, the stunning geothermal area at Geysir and the majestic Gullfoss waterfall. Shot in high-definition, this DVD includes beautiful aerial shots of some of the most magical landscapes in Iceland. Narration is in four languages: English, French, German and Icelandic.

DVD. Vista Point. 26 Minutes. Reykjavik is Iceland`s gateway to the world and is one of the smallest metropolises on Earth. Just over a hundred thousand people live in this the northernmost of all cities that is sometimes referred to as Iceland's `Smokey Bay'. The Hallgrims Kirkja is one of Reykjavik's main landmarks, a Neo Gothic church that was built between 1945 and 1986. It was named after a famous religious minister and poet of the 17th century, Hallg?mur P?tursson. Both its design and large dimensions are impressive. Tj?rnin is located in the centre of the city, a wonderful small lake surrounded by spacious parks and the new City Hall is also located there. Krists Kirkja is the city's main Catholic church and in 1989 the Pope preached within its walls marking the first visit of the Pontificate to Iceland. Narrow elegant bridges span across the splendid ponds of the Botanical Garden, a popular destination for the inhabitants of Reykjavik. However, small forests of conifers are the only real sign of nature on this remote and barren island. Chimneys are a rarity in Reykjavik. The majority of its houses are heated by geothermic water. Indeed, many of its pavements and streets are heated, a convenient asset that saves much money on snow clearance and makes life a lot easier for the local population. In Iceland the summer months are bright but in spring and autumn there are long periods when there is little daylight. July is the time of the famous midnight sun and thanks to the Gulf Stream the island enjoys a relatively temperate climate with cool summers and quite mild winters. Historic sights, hi-tech buildings and the charm of a small town. All this is Reykjavik, a remote metropolis built on fire and ice!