Iceland: what are you waiting for?

Mývatn is a lake near Akureyri in North Iceland. The lake was formed during a massive eruption 2300 years ago. Today the area is best known for the huge numbers of birds that visit in the summer, and for the weird and inspiring volcanic features that surround the lake. The name "Mývatn" is derived from the vast numbers of midges that gather at the lake and are sure to leave an impression on all who visit! 



In general the area's weather is less severe than what is found elsewhere in Iceland. The average temperature in January is -0.2°C, and in July the average reaches 10.2°C. The area is also one of the sunniest in Iceland, and annual precipitation is only 0.4m.


The easiest and most flexible way to visit the lake is by automobile. There are also numerous buses from Akureyri, Husavik or Egilsstadir. For those looking for more of an adventure, visiting by bicycle entails a 90 kilometer pedal from Akureyri. 

There is not much of a public transport system. If you came to Myvatn by bus, walking, biking and hitchhiking are you best options but beware as it can get quite chilly in the winter. The road around the lake is approx. 36km. so biking is a good option. There are some local trips available at Skútustaðir, Vogar and Reykjahlíð

Myvatn

Myvatn

Seydirsfjordur is were the ferry comes from Europe. Many take there cars with them on the ferry and travel on there own. 

Seydirsfjordur

There is a weekly ferry run by Smyril line - to Denmark and the Faroe Islands. The schedule is complicated but it generally departs once per week at 8AM during the summer half the year (April-June and August-October) , and at 1PM during high season (June-August). Check website for details. Due to the limited market, and rough conditions, prices are very high. A return journey to Denmark for instance will set you back €280-590 with a car or €120-250 per passenger, depending on the season, excluding a supplement fare for a cabin or bed. 


By, bus,he nearest Airport in Egilsstaðir, about 30 minutes away, has regular flights to the capital, there is a daily bus to Seyðisfjörður connecting with the flights stopping in central Egilsstaðir on route. From central Egilsstaðir there are one or two additional departures per day during the summer, as well as the option to change to several bus lines connecting to other parts of Iceland. The buses are run by Ferðaþjónusta Austurlands which has no website, but the city administration website maintains a an updated schedule. 

Seydirsfjordur

Seydirsfjordur

Seydirsfjordur

Northern lights are only visible at the winter and only on a cold winter night will they expose them self’s. It savory to see such a beautiful lights dance in the sky.

Northern lights

Northern lights

Northern lights

for details: iceland-vacation-information.com

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Canada: Lake Louise

Lake Louise is a lake in Alberta, Canada. The glacial lake is located in Banff National Park, 5 km (3.1 mi) from the hamlet of Lake Louise and the Trans-Canada Highway.

Lake Louise is named after the Princess Louise Caroline Alberta (1848–1939), the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and the wife of the Marquess of Lorne, who was the Governor General of Canada from 1878 to 1883.

The emerald colour of the water comes from rock flour carried into the lake by melt-water from the glaciers that overlook the lake. Fairmont's Chateau Lake Louise, one of Canada's grand railway hotels, is located on Lake Louise's eastern shore. Moraine Lake and Lake Agnes are also accessible from Lake Louise.

A variety of hiking trails exist around the lake. Hiking trails include trips to Saddleback Pass, Fairview Mountain (2,744 m (9,003 ft)), Mirror Lake, Lake Agnes, Big Beehive, Little Beehive, Devils Thumb, Mount Whyte, and Mount Niblock. The nearby Lake Louise Ski Area, formerly known as Lake Louise Mountain Resort, offers amenities for alpine and Cross-country skiing, as well as heli-skiing and snowboarding. The lake can be used for ice fishing and ice skating in winter, while the surrounding area offers settings for snowmobiling, dog sledding, snowshoeing and ice climbing. 

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Japan: Japanese countryside, Nikko

Nikkō is a city in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Approximately 140 km north of Tokyo and 35 km west of Utsunomiya, the capital of Tochigi Prefecture, it is a popular destination for Japanese and international tourists. Attractions include the mausoleum of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (Nikkō Tōshō-gū) and that of his grandson Iemitsu (Iemitsu-byō Taiyū-in), and the Futarasan Shrine, which dates to the year 767. There are also many famous hot springs (onsen) in the area. Elevations range from 200 to 2,000 m. The mountains west of the main city are part of Nikkō National Park and contain some of the country's most spectacular waterfalls and scenic trails.
As of January 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 92,181.

The post-merger city of Nikkō covers a large area (1,449.87 km²) of rural northwestern Tochigi. It is the third-largest city (by area) in Japan, behind Takayama and Hamamatsu.
Lake Chūzenji and the Kegon Falls lie in Nikkō, as does the Nikko Botanical Garden. The city's many mountains and waterfalls have made it an important source of hydroelectric power. The area has also been used for mining copper, aluminum and concrete.

The weather in Nikkō is fairly similar to that of Hokkaidō even though it is much closer to Tokyo than Hokkaidō. The elevation of Nikkō plays an important role in this fact. It will usually get cooler as one ascends the mountain. The average temperature of Nikkō is around 7°C (44°F) with the warmest months reaching only about 22°C (72°F) and the coldest reaching down to about -8°C (17°F).

Nikko experiences a humid continental and hemiboreal climate with cold, snowy winters and predominantly mild, very wet summers. Nikko is situated at an altitude of 1298m above sea level.

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