Greenland and Iceland
This series of photos by Flickr user llykstw shows the western edge of the Greenland icecap, the eastern coastline, and parts of northern Iceland. The first photo, probably taken shortly after takeoff from the airport at Kangerlussuaq, shows the western edge of Greenland's interior icecap. Along this region of West Greenland, the icecap meets the open land in a long continuous line, sending out occasional tongues of ice that sometimes make it to the sea, but more often end inland, with runoff forming glacial rivers that flow into the many fjords along the coastline. Such is the case with the glaciers here. In the left center is the Isunnguata Sermia glacier, which terminates just outside the frame. Further up the coast, several smaller glaciers can be seen protruding from the icecap.
Photo (© llykstw)
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Isunnguata Sermia glacier terminus
This slightly different angle on the scene from above shows the terminus of the Isunnguata Sermia glacier at left center.
A little further inland, this shot shows the vast, featureless expanse of the interior icecap. From here, the ice stretches eastward, uninterrupted, for over 300 miles.
These nunataks (mountains protruding through glacial ice) on Greenland's eastern coast lie about 410 miles east of the previous images.
This image of the East Greenland coastline shows Cape Christiansen in the lower left. Above it, at left center, is Cape Louis Ussing. The sea is frozen for five to ten miles offshore, and dotted with icebergs.
Now we move on to Iceland, along a flight path probably bound for Oslo, Copenhagen, or somewhere in eastern Europe. This image shows the northermost tip of the rugged Skagi peninsula in northern Iceland.
This image shows the northern portion of Iceland's Tröllaskagi peninsula. The lake in the foreground is Sléttuhlíðarvatn.
This is another shot of the Tröllaskagi Peninsula, showing the northeastern portion. The town of Ólafsfjörður lies in the upper right.
The final image shows Hrísey Island in the Eyjafjörður fjord. The small fishing village of Dalvík lies along the bay in the lower left.
Photos taken: February 12, 2005
Photos by: llykstw
Route: Unknown
Comments
Fantastic! What a great explanation and guide, thanks for putting it together (and for being kind enough to comment on my photos). You're absolutely right about the positions of each of the photos, and my flight was indeed going to Copenhagen. The visibility was fantastic throughout.
Posted by: Scott Walters | March 15, 2007 8:04 AM