GSA'S FIRST STUDENT-ORIENTED GEOVENTURES TRIP: ICELAND--2002

To promote student interest in and knowledge of international geology, the Geological Society of America initiated Student-Oriented Geoventures excursions to geologically fascinating countries around the world. In August 2002, twenty-six students from twenty-one U.S. colleges and universities participated on the first Student Geoventures trip: a two-week camping excursion around Iceland. The journey began in Reykjavík, continued through the central Iceland desert, and followed the coast to end in Reykjavík. The route generally followed the Ring Road around the country.

A charter bus was used throughout the trip for transportation between the established, modern campsites and to field sites. An English-speaking, Icelandic driver added his vast local knowledge to the trip. GSA provided two large communal kitchen tents, tables, chairs, and cooking facilities. Students provided their own camping equipment and shared cooking responsibilities on a rotating basis. A faculty leader and camp manager organized the daily activities.

Tectonics, volcanism, and glaciers were the primary topics investigated but geomorphologic themes such as stream and coastal erosion, geothermal and periglacial phenomena, mass movement, and near-surface hydrology were also discussed. Rifting was investigated at Thingvellir, Lakigigar, Eldgjà , Namafjall Hverir, and Krafla caldera. Geothermal sites visited include Hveravellir, Namafjall Hverir, Krafla caldera, Askja Viti, and Landmannalauger. Icebergs were observed up close from an amphibious boat in Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon. Numerous waterfalls and lava flows along the route were also examined.

Students had the option of undertaking more than 50 km of hikes. These included trails through volcanic centers at Krafla and Askja calderas, the Myvatn pseudocraters, Hverfjall tuff cone, and the breathtaking rhyolite fields at Landmannalauger; as well as a day-long hike along a valley glacier descending from the Vatnajökull ice cap in Skaftafell National Park.

The students unanimously enjoyed the first Student-Oriented Geoventures trip. Many of them promised to return to Iceland, and several expressed interest in participating in future GSA-sponsored excursions.