as seen on the big screen: iceland’s most surrealist film set locations
Iceland is renowned for its expansive landscapes, which are reminiscent of a futuristic environment or something that cannot exist in our lifetime. From northern lights to glaciers to volcanoes and so much more, "the land of fire and ice" is home to numerous landscapes that may make you question their reality. Have you ever wondered where some of your favourite movies and television shows were filmed? Iceland is a small country, but Hollywood has made the most of this surrealist country by revealing its hidden beauty. Here are the top five film locations that you may have seen on the big screen.
Svínafellsjökull Glacier
This glacier in Skaftafell Nature Reserve is popular with hikers for its formations and views. This glacier's sharp ridges are more beautiful to photograph than climb. Ascending the mountain improves the view and soul escape. Black ash on glaciers reminds hikers of past volcanic eruptions. You may not have noticed these incredible ridges before, as I did. Game of Thrones used Iceland's beauty to film long, dramatic battles. In Christopher Nolan's Interstellar, astronauts explored its surface. It allows tourists to relive these moments of exploring a new world or defending the Wall from White Walkers.
Mýrdalssandur Beach
This 35-kilometer-long black-sand coastline is rich in folklore and history. Locals believe the black sand desert is haunted. Black sand is caused by ice caps and sudden glacial floods from mountains to sea. The unique landscape still awes visitors. They also visit a beach-worthy Navy DC aircraft wreck. This was the filming location for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story's opening scene, so if you look up you can imagine an imperial ship landing.
Grundarfjörður
Grundarfjorur, in Iceland's west, is a tourism hub. It has 872 residents. As fishing is the town's main industry, ships constantly enter and leave the harbour, providing interesting and educational sights. Iceland's history can be learned at photography exhibitions, libraries, and historical centres. The town's views of the Kirkjufell Mountains and Northern Lights are also famous. It's a nice way to unwind, relax, and meet locals with interesting stories, as Walter Mitty does in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
Lake Kleifarvatn
The landscape surrounding the largest lake on the Reykjanes Peninsula is covered with a layer of lava, moss, and steaming hot springs. In addition to scuba diving, visiting the Reykjanes lighthouse, and exploring the lake's fishing villages, the lake also offers sightseeing tours that include scuba diving. Frequently, tour guides would also mention that the Loch Ness Monster inhabits the lake, but no sightings have been reported...yet. In any case, it is a tranquil area that will induce a mental break for relaxation. This lake may have appeared in an episode of Black Mirror, in which landscapes may or may not play a role in the plot.
Landmannalaugar
Landmannalaugar is known as the "Pearl of the Highlands" of Ireland due to its colourful mountains, slopes, and year-round hot springs. This landscape has a tradition in which hikers would take a break at the halfway point to refresh in the warm baths before continuing their trek. For this reason, Landmannalaugar translates as "the People's Pool." The geothermal pools that visitors enjoy so much are heated by molten lava beneath the surface. As seen in the Marvel film Thor: The Dark World, this landscape was also used as the backdrop for a Norse world.