Iceland scenes

A few pictures for those of you who are unlikely to get here.

--One of many outdoor sculptures in Reykjavik, this one by Ásmundur Sveinsson.

--Evidence of the direction of lava flow, seen on rocks throughout the country.

--A grave marker from years ago: To this date, each Icelander has a first name and then a last name based on his or her father´s first name. There are no last names. Phone books list people alphabetically by their first names.

--The side of a glacial valley, cut through volcanic rock. (All the rock here is volcanic.)

--Road and pipe leading from the geothermal energy plant that serves the capital city. Bore holes produce steam and hot water. The steam drives a turbine to produce electricity. The leftover steam and hot water then pass through a heat exchanger to heat cool water taken from a lake, which is then transported about 30 kilometers to Reykjavik, losing only 2 degrees Celsius en route. Geothermal energy is a key asset in Iceland´s economy.