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Loading up the vans and the truck yet again - this time at Skútustaðir.

Itinerary

Course Schedule:

Tuesday, August 5, 1997
Arrival in Reykjavík.

• Reception and light dinner at the University of Iceland (UI).
• Address by Gudmundur Halfdanarson, Chairman of the Committee for International Relations, UI.
• Performance of Icelandic Music, ethnic and modern.
• Lodging in Guesthouse, Reykjavík.

Wednesday, August 6, 1997
Drive from Reykjavík to Hólar, over Kjölur highland route.

• Stops at:
• • Nesjavellir
  • Þingvellir
  • Geysir
  • Gullfoss,
  • Hveravellir
  • Blanda hydro-electric power station (including a tour of the power station)
• Dinner and lodging at Hólar Agricultural College (HAC).

Thursday, August 7, 1997
Hólar

• Trips within Skagafjörður area.
• Short lectures about the history of Hólar and the research activities currently being conducted at HAC:
• 1. Sigridur Bjornsdottir - Research on horses
  2. Helgi Thorarensen - Research on Arctic Charr Ecology and Aquaculture
  3. Valgeir Bjarnason - History of the Agricultural College
  4. Hildur Bolladottir - History of Hólar Cathedral and Episcopal Seat
• Visit to Hólar Cathedral and the freshwater Aquarium at HAC.
• Field introduction to freshwater biology and aquaculture.
• Tour of the Icelandic- Canadian museum at Hofsós.
• Dinner at Hólar.
• Lodging at the University of Akureyri (UA).

Friday, February 8, 1997
Akureyri

• Lectures from 09-12 at the University of Akureyri:
• 1. Olafur Astthorsson - Marine ecology of Iceland
  2. Petur Bjarnason - Overview of Icelandic marine fisheries
  3. Niels Einarsson - Marine mammals hunting and conservation
• Afternoon & evening activities:
• Geological tour of Eyjafjörður area (field trip) guided by Jonas Helgason
• Visit to Viking Beer Factory
• Reception and dinner hosted by Thorsteinn Gunnarsson, rector of UA
• Lodging in Akureyri

Saturday, August 9, 1997
Akureyri

• Lectures from 09-12 at UA:
• 1. Thorvardur Arnason - Environmental ethics and philosophy
  2. Antonio C. Martinez - Systems Approach in NaturalScience/deglaciation
  3. Augusto P. Alberti - Valley glaciers & Deglaciation model-valley glaciers
  4. Thorgnyr Dyrfjord - Icelandic Government
• Afternoon activities:
• • Discussion meeting about student projects (15-18)
• Dinner & lodging in Akureyri.

Sunday, August 10, 1997
Akureyri

• Free time (no lectures or scheduled field trips).
• • Afternoon activities:
  • • Three independently organized different field trips:
    • • Two to top of nearby mountains
      • One to Dalvík.
• Evening activities:
• • Whale watching and marine angling in Eyjafjörður.
  • Visit to small-scale fish factory in the village of Hauganes.
• Dinner & lodging in Akureyri.

Monday, August 11, 1997
Akureyri

• Lectures from 09-12 at UA:
• 1. Haraldur Bessason - Icelandic language and literature
  2. Haraldur Bessason - Iceland-Canada relations - past and present
  3. Haraldur I. Haraldsson - Icelandic folklore - monsters & mythical beasts
• Afternoon activities:
• • Visits to Akureyri unemployment-center "Punkturinn"
  • Akureyri Fishing Cooperation.
• Dinner (fresh cod caught by students)
• Lodging in Akureyri.

Tuesday, August 12, 1997
Akureyri

• Lectures from 09-12 at UA:
• 1. Bjarni Gudleifsson - Icelandic agriculture - possibilities & problems
  2. Skuli Skulason - Freshwater biology and resources
  3. Snorri Baldursson - Conservation of Arctic flora and fauna (CAFF)
• Afternoon activities:
• • Lunch reception hosted by the Municipality of Akureyri at restaurant "Fiðlarinn".
  • Independently organized field trip to Grenivík and Fnjoskardalur
• Dinner & lodging in Akureyri.

Wednesday, August 13, 1997
Drive to Mývatn during the morning with stops at Laufás Church and Goðafoss.

• Lectures at Mývatn:
• 1. Karl Gronvold - Geology of Iceland
  2. Jon S. Olafsson - Ecology of Iceland (ref. Mývatn)
  3. Arni Einarsson - Avian diversity and ecology of Mývatn
• Afternoon & evening activities:
• • Meetings and discussions about projects
  • Coordination of theme-groups (Geology, Soil Erosion and Biology).
• Dinner & lodging at Skútustaðir by Lake Mývatn.

Thursday, August 14, 1997
Mývatn

• Lectures from 09-12 at Mývatn:
• 1. Asbjorn Dagbjartsson - Wild mammals in Iceland
  2. Andres Arnalds - Soil erosion and conservation in Iceland
  3. Bryndis Brandsdottir - Geological history of Krafla-area
• Afternoon activities:
• • Common field trip for Geology and Soil Erosion theme-groups to
  • 1. Hverfell
    2. Lúdentsborgir
    3. Dimmuborgir
  • Field trips for Biology group incorporated with work being done by the Mývatn Research Station.
• Dinner & lodging at Skútustaðir.

Friday, August 15, 1997
Mývatn

• Lectures from 09-12 at Mývatn:
• 1. Thorvardur Arnason - Views of Nature (ref. Iceland)
  2. Gudmundur Halfdanarson - Icelandic History
  3. Arni Einarsson - Human ecology in the Mývatn-area
• Afternoon activities:
• • Geological field trip to various sites around Mývatn.
  • Soil Erosion group to Holasandur land reclamation project.
  • Biology group continued working with instructors at Mývatn Research Station
• Independently organized field trip to
• • Adaldalur
  • Húsavík
  • Tjörnes
• Optional horse riding trip
• Dinner & lodging at Skútustaðir.

Saturday, August 16, 1997
Mývatn

• Lectures from 09-12 at Mývatn:
• 1. Sigurdur Snorrason - Environmental debates about Mývatn
  2. Olof Yrr Atladottir - Tourism and nature in Iceland (ref. Mývatn)
  3. Skuli Skulason - Biodiversity with reference to freshwater fish in Iceland
• Afternoon activities:
• • Common field trip for all participants to Krafla caldera.
  • Visit to the Educational Activity Center "Kvika" in Reykjahlíð village.
• Dinner & lodging at Skútustaðir.

Sunday, August 17, 1997
Mývatn

• Free time (no lectures)
• • Optional whole-day field trip to Jökulsárgljúfur National Park (undertaken by almost all participants) with emphasis on waterfall formations (e.g. Dettifoss) and remnants of pre-historical catastrophic floods.
• Evening activities:
• • Tour of the Krafla geo-thermal power plant followed by a reception hosted by Kvika Educational Activity Center and the National Energy Authority.
  • Dinner at Hotel Reykjahlíð.
• Lodging at Skútustaðir.

Monday, August 18, 1997
Drive from Mývatn to Reykjavík.

• Seven participants continued on a independently organized field trip to Skeiðarárssandur in SE-Iceland organized by Thorkell Heidarsson, returning next evening.
• Dinner and lodging for others in Reykjavík.

Tuesday, August 19 & Wednesday, August 20, 1997
Reykjavík

• Activity in Reykjavík.
• • Institute of Biology
  • University of Iceland
  • Marine Research Institute
  • National Association of Fishing Companies
  • National Energy Authority (a lecture and slide show about the 1997 Vatnajökull eruption and flood in SE-Iceland)
• Dinner and lodging in Reykjavík.

Thursday, August 21, 1997
Return flight to Toronto via Halifax.

Iceland Trip
Introduction · Itinerary · Background · Arriving in Iceland · Getting Around · Geysir · Gullfoss · Kjölur Route
Hólar · Akureyri · Goðafoss · Mývatn · Húsavík · Krafla · Ásbyrgi · Jökulsárgljúfur · Reykjavík
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Last updated 10 February 2006
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