Öskjuleið

Shortcut to Askja caldera. One controversial river. Locals say easy, tourists say terrifying.

Walking where astronauts walked hits different. They came here to prepare for the moon. You're standing on the closest thing to another world.

Apollo astronauts trained here in 1965. NASA picked Askja because it looks like the moon. Neil Armstrong walked these paths before walking on the actual moon.

The Lindaá river is the debate. Locals think it's nothing. Tourists freak out. Check water levels on road.is before deciding. The eastern route via F910 avoids Lindaá completely if you're unsure.

Askja crater is incredible. Víti crater lake is warm enough to swim. The whole area looks like another world - because NASA thought so too.

Crater lakes need no wind to get reflections - rare but magical. Shoot Víti from the eastern rim. Morning light fills the crater best.

Not much lives here. Gyrfalcons hunt along the route. Snow buntings nest in the sand. That's about it.