Askja is a stratovolcano situated in a remote part of the central highlands of Iceland The name Askja refers to a complex of nested calderas within the surrounding Dyngjufjöll mountains, which rise to 1,510m. Viti, above, is a smaller explosion crater that is still hot.
The region is only accessible for a few months of the year. Being situated in the rain-shadow to the NE of the Vatnajökull icecap, the area receives only about 450 mm of rainfall annually.
The area was used during training for the Apollo program to prepare astronauts for potential lunar conditions. The last eruption of the Askja was in 1961.
The roads are usually only open for about two or three months in high summer.
Selfportrait in the morning light.
Parking by the trail head. A lot of scientists in the area measuring seismic activity.
We bought this wine in Hunter Valley Australia and brought it back to London. We decided to bring some really nice vine to drink on the Icelandic Highland. The wine bottle flew with us to Reykjavik and was driven around in a jeep before it was consumed.
Talk about huge carbon footprint!