Photo Gallery :: Icelandic Lava Caves

Iceland's active volcanoes have created a series of networks of lava caves - ranging from short cavities within the lava fields, to a few extensive caves of more than 1km in length. On our recent visit we were fortunate enough to be taken to a few sites by some local cavers. Here are a few of the photos we took on an extremely wet day on the Reykjanes Peninsular in Iceland, 2010. Special thanks go to Gudni, Ragnar, Halldór and Vladimir at the Icelandic speleological society (Hellarannsóknafélag Íslands) - to Björn at www.extremeiceland.is - and to Ed and Hayley for helping put us in touch with the right people.

Lava formations in Buri Cave

Stalactites in an Icelandic Lava tube - these unusual formations are created when lava flowing in the tube heats the lava tube walls/roof sufficiently for to start to melt. Note the "glazing" effect.

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