Earth Tones

 

Iceland fall 260

It does not feel anything like being on a mountaintop.

The dark chasm plummets to the ocean floor at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Earth was riven long before humans arrived.

Although one can stand at Reykjanes Ridge, the vast scarred mountain range remains almost entirely hidden beneath the sea.

Where I stood in southwestern Iceland, the jagged outline where the earth had parted resembled a raptor rising in flight.  But what truly drew my eye was the surrounding color. Rich russet, sparkling copper, bright lime velvet moss, and honeysuckle grasses swept out to the cerulean sky and sea.

Silver water pooled in boulders’ concentric swirls and rose in distant feathered steam plumes.

At the same spot where the Earth’s vast energy cleaved continental plates, on this still day plants grew yet more imperceptibly than the divide, turning a dusting of light rain into a bright autumnal landscape.

Iceland fall 760

 

 

 

Author: Stephanie

In her spare time, Stephanie works full-time, and then some, as an attorney. She has published articles and delivered talks in arcane fields like forensic evidentiary issues, jury instructions, and expert scientific witness preparation. She attended law school near the the banks of the Charles River and loves that dirty water; she will always think of Boston as her home. You are welcome to take a look at her Facebook author page, or follow @SMartinGlennon on Twitter and @schnitzelpond on Instagram. Bonus points for anyone who understands the Instagram handle. All content on this blog, unless otherwise attributed, is (c) 2012-2023 by Stephanie M. Glennon and should not be reproduced (in any form other than re-blogging in accordance with the wee Wordpress buttons at the bottom of each post) without the express permission of the domain holder.

13 thoughts on “Earth Tones”

    1. It’s impossible not to get great photos anywhere you go in Iceland: these were taken on my phone in the rain as my daughter and I stumbled around, jet-lagged, after travelling all night 🙂

  1. 66 degrees North. Definitely on the Bucket List.
    Great photos, Stephanie. Happy Mother’s Day,
    Ω

      1. 20 years ago I bought a rain jacket that was made in Iceland by the 66 Degrees North company.

        I still have it & love it.
        Ω

      2. I think you should grab that jacket and pop on a plane to Iceland while the northern lights (if not yet the puffins) are still easy to find!

    1. There are so many gorgeous and completely different landscapes there–we went clockwise from the southwest and saw vista after vista of landscapes and land forms (like square-topped pyramids!) we’d never seen before.

  2. Iceland is on my bucket list! Thanks, Stephanie, for continuing your quest for life- it’s very inspiring.

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