Travellers allowed inside massive Icelandic volcano for the first time
Posted on Tuesday 15 May 2012
in Adventure, Family, Summer
Indian travellers who like to be among the first to explore new destinations and attractions now have a new opportunity in Iceland. The unique and somewhat isolated country is home to a massive, dormant volcano known as Thrihnukagigur where guests can visit for the first time and journey into its underground chamber. Some tour companies are chartering excursions to the site so travellers may enter at the peak and peer inside the volcanic cavern that could easily fit a skyscraper inside.
"Volcano tourism has really taken off in the last few years and we have seen a huge increase in demand, especially for visits to Iceland following the news exposure the destination received after the 2010 eruptions," Georgina Hancock, Discover the World's tour group representative, as quoted by Relaxnews. "I believe that part of the fascination of volcanoes harks back to our school days, where they were a major feature in our geography syllabus and still hold an almost 'mystical' interest to many of us."
Travellers who book their travel plans to Iceland can venture to the dormant volcano and take a special cable car that traverses the descent into the chamber. Known as Three Peaks Crater in English, this volcano is located inside the Blafjoll Country Park, roughly 20 kilometres away from the capital city of Reykjavik.
Although there are three separate chambers, the one travellers can explore is the largest, as the bottom of the massive hole is the size of three basketball courts. What makes the cavern unique is that after volcanoes erupt, they are usually closed my hardened magma, but this one remained opened and now guests can enter inside via the cable car.
Not only can travellers see inside the volcano during their adventure travel trip to Thrihnukagigur, tour organisations will bring guests throughout the park to see more of the area's volcanoes and natural landscapes. Iceland has more than 100 volcanic mountains, with many located in this nature reserve.
Although the eruptions of the Icelandic volcanoes two years ago were concerning to geological experts and some tourists, the country is perfectly safe to visit and welcomes tourists to come and learn more about lava flows, volcanic landscapes and more. Some guests will even head to the area while volcanoes are erupting to see the action first hand, making for a adrenaline-pumping experience while on holiday in Iceland.
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