In far northern Europe, there is a mysterious and fascinating country called Iceland. It is like an independent pearl, embedded in the intersection of the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean, surrounded by endless glaciers, active volcanoes, vast wasteland and turbulent waterfalls. This land is full of fantasy, as if it were a canvas for the gods to write legends, and every inch bears the traces of time and the power of nature.
The hero of the story, the young photographer Ellie, has always been fascinated by the magnificent scenery of Iceland. She is obsessed with capturing the uncut beauty of nature, using the lens to freeze the moment, so that more people can appreciate the magic of the earth. Finally, in a midsummer, Ellie set foot on this long-awaited land with dreams and expectations.
When Ali arrived in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, it was the white night season. Although it was past midnight, the sky was still faintly bright. The city is not big, and the colorful small houses are arranged in a patchwork way by the sea, just like a town in a fairy tale. In the distance, the Hallgrimms Cathedral is towering into the sky, and its unique architectural style plays a quiet movement like an organ. Ellie strolled in the street, breathing the fresh air with a little salty taste, and her heart was full of longing for the next journey.
The next morning, Ellie rented an off-road vehicle and headed for Iceland's famous golden circle. The first stop is Singeville National Park, which is an important holy place in Iceland's history and the junction of the North American plate and the Eurasian plate. Ellie stood at the edge of the Rift Valley, with bottomless ravines and rugged rocks at her feet, while the distant Lake Sifu Lala was sparkling in the breeze. She set up a camera. Under the lens, the blue lake, green moss and dark volcanic rocks are in sharp contrast. Time seems to freeze here, and every photo tells the vicissitudes of the earth for billions of years.
Leaving Singville, Ellie went to Geyser. Before we got close, the air was filled with pungent smell of sulfur. The geothermal area is full of fog, and the ground is covered with boiling springs, which are bubbling as if the earth is breathing. Suddenly, there was an exclamation in the crowd, only to see the famous "Strokkur" geyser erupt, and the white water column rushed into the sky like a rocket, forming a gorgeous rainbow under the refraction of sunlight. Ellie quickly pressed the shutter to capture this shocking scene, and the hot water vapor came on her face, which made her really feel the majestic power of nature.
The last stop of the Golden Circle is the Golden Waterfall. Abundant water rushes down from a cliff tens of meters high and falls into a deep valley, stirring up layers of water mist. The sun shines on the waterfall, reflecting the golden light, just like the milky way falling for nine days. Ellie approached the waterfall along the trail. The deafening roar made her heart beat faster, and the fine water droplets wet her clothes. Despite the fog, she found a good angle and tried to capture the spectacular scenery completely with the lens. At this time, a local old man passed by and saw Ellie's concentration. She smiled and said in poor English, "Girl, this waterfall is the soul of Iceland. Its strength comes from ancient glaciers and will never be exhausted." Ellie was deeply touched. She understood that the charm of this land lies not only in the scenery, but also in the profound natural heritage behind it.
After the trip to the Golden Circle, Ellie continued to move eastward to Watner Glacier. Along the way, vast expanse's wasteland came into view, with black sand and sparse vegetation, but in a dead silence, there was a different kind of magnificence. Occasionally, several Icelandic horses can be seen grazing leisurely in the wilderness, and their furry manes fluttered with the wind, becoming a touch of agility in the monotonous landscape.
When Watner Glacier appeared in front of her eyes, Ellie was shocked by what she saw. The huge ice sheet is endless, and the glacier is like a work of art carved by a giant. glacier tongue winds down into the valley. Under the sunshine, the glacier presents a dreamy blue, deep and charming. Ellie signed up for a glacier hike, put on heavy equipment and followed the guide to this blue wonderland. Walking on the glacier, there is a creak of ice cracking under your feet, and you need to be careful at every step. The guide stopped from time to time and knocked down a small piece of ice with the ice pick in his hand, so that everyone could taste the purity after thousands of years. Ellie stroked the ice wall, feeling its coldness and tenacity, and her heart was filled with awe of nature.
After a night's rest in the town near the glacier, Ellie heard that there was a mysterious volcanic cave nearby, and the legend contained ancient secrets. Curious, she asked the local people about the route and went to explore it alone. The entrance to the cave is hidden and covered by thick grass. Ellie bent down and got into the cave, which was dark and damp, and only a few rays of light penetrated through the gap at the top of the cave. She turned on the flashlight and went deeper step by step. The strange mineral light flashed on the wall, as if telling a long story. Suddenly, Ellie found some ancient symbols on the ground, like some mysterious words. Excited, she quickly recorded it with a camera, thinking that these might be the remains left by the ancestors of Iceland, which might uncover the dusty past of this land.
After coming out of the cave, Ellie couldn't calm down for a long time. She decided to go to the south bank of Iceland to see the famous black sand beach. When she arrived in Vic town and walked along the coastline to the black beach, she gasped at the sight. Black sand and gravel, as if soaked in ink, shimmered under the scouring of the waves. Basalt columns of different shapes stand on the shore, like the guards of giants guarding the coast. The waves of the Atlantic Ocean are surging, hitting the beach violently again and again, rolling up white waves and issuing thunderous roars. Regardless of the danger, Ellie was filming near the sea. A huge wave came and almost dragged her into the sea. Fortunately, a passing surfer was quick-eyed and pulled her back. Ali thanked the surfer in shock, but the surfer smiled brightly: "This sea is so wild, it is dangerous and charming, just like Iceland's character."
During her visit to the South Bank, Ellie met an Icelandic geologist, Sol. Saul knew the geological structure of Iceland like the back of his hand. He was moved by Ellie's love for Iceland and decided to take her to some little-known minority attractions. They drove inland and came to a geothermal hot spring hidden in the valley. There is no noise of tourists here, only the dense heat and quiet environment. Ellie took off her clothes and slowly stepped into the hot spring. The warm spring water wrapped her body, and the sense of fatigue dissipated instantly. Sol sat beside her and explained to her the formation principle of geothermal hot springs and how the continuous heat energy under Iceland shaped this unique land. Ellie listened intently. She realized that Iceland was like an open geological textbook, and every page was full of magic.
As the journey progressed, the relationship between Ellie and Saul became closer. Together, they explored more hidden beauty, such as high mountains and lakes, hidden waterfalls and ancient craters. On a quiet night, they sat by a campfire, watching the Northern Lights break through the night sky. The green and pink light bands are intertwined and dancing like a dream. Ellie leans on Saul's shoulder, and her heart is full of emotion and happiness. At that moment, she felt that she had integrated into this land, and Iceland was no longer a distant travel destination, but the destination of her soul.
However, good times are always short-lived. Ellie's visa is about to expire, and she has to face parting. At the airport in Reykjavik, Ellie and Saul hugged each other and cried. She knows that although she will leave Iceland, the memory of this land, those shocking scenery and warm human feelings will always be engraved in her heart.
After returning to her hometown, Ellie held a grand Icelandic photo exhibition. The exhibition hall is full of photos taken by her during her trip, each with a touching text telling the story behind it. People come to visit in an endless stream, and through Ellie's lens, it seems that they have personally set foot on that magical land. And Ellie, who often sits in the corner of the exhibition hall, remembers the dribs and drabs of Iceland and silently plans the next reunion in her heart. Because she knows that Iceland is like an eternal poem, whenever it is opened, it can read new feelings and miracles.