Inspired Travel: Skaftafell's Crystal Cave

by  Amanda Black | Apr 8, 2013
Skaftafell Cave, Iceland
Skaftafell Cave, Iceland / Anna_Om/Istock

We're excited to announce that for the next 100 days or so, we'll be bringing you some of the most inspired travel ideas! That means you'll get a sneak peak at some of the coolest places to visit on Earth. Some look real, some not so much, but trust us, they're all worth a spot on your bucket list. So bookmark our blog and get ready to follow as we embark on an adventure around the world, and back again.

We're getting our start in Skaftafell, Iceland. Located inside Europe's largest national park, Vatnajokull National Park, is the amazingly beautiful Crystal Cave of Svmnafellsjvkull. When the Vatnajvkull ice cap met the Icelandic coastline centuries ago, the Crystal Cave formed. Now, it's the perfect spot for adventurers to visit. While you're in the caves, you might hear crackling sounds – that's actually the cave shifting! Because the caves are unstable by nature, the best time to visit is in the winter when the ice is its hardest. Those indigo-blues are actually true to the color in person and are best after a light rain buffs the ice.

The Crystal Cave is definitely the main attraction here, but while you're in the area, you should definitely check out the roughly 65-foot-tall waterfall Svartifoss. The large lava columns that frame the falls seem almost man-made and gave rise to the waterfall's name: translated into English, it means Black Fall.

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