This is the steampipe to Reykjavik from the geothermal field 50km east of Reykjavik.
The grey woolly landscape is lava covered with grey moss. In the middle distance there’s a large lake, Þingvallavatn – famous as being the location of Iceland’s parliament for hundreds of years. On the horizon, centre, you can see one of Iceland’s icecaps.
There are hotter geothermal fields further away that are used for generating power, but there they generate the power right at the site, and run the power by cables, which is more efficient and cost effective than running the steam miles to the power plant.
August 2002.
©Clive K Semmens 2002