Picture Gallery: Ice

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The Goðafoss is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. It is located in the Mývatn district of North-Central Iceland at the beginning of the Sprengisandur highland road. The water of the river Skjálfandafljót falls from a height of 12 meters over a width of 30 meters. In the year 999 or 1000 the Lawspeaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði made Christianity the official religion of Iceland. After his conversion it is said that upon returning from the Alþingi, Þorgeir threw his statues of the Norse gods into the waterfall. Þorgeir's story is preserved in Ari Þorgilsson's Íslendingabók. A window in the Cathedral of Akureyri (Akureyrarkirkja) illustrates this story. MS Goðafoss, an Icelandic ship named after the waterfall, was carrying both freight and passengers. It was sunk by a German U-Boat in World War II, resulting in great loss of lives.

Source: 500px.com/photo/18240563/goðafoss-iceland-by-james-appleton

Source: 500px.com/photo/10078943/godafoss-by-dennis-fischer

Source: 500px.com/photo/4168701

Moraine Lake is a glacially-fed lake in Banff National Park, 14 kilometres outside the Village of Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada. It is situated in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, at an elevation of approximately 6,183 feet. The lake has a surface area of .5 square kilometres. The lake, being glacially fed, does not reach its crest until mid to late June. When it is full, it reflects a distinct shade of blue. The colour is due to the refraction of light off the rock flour deposited in the lake on a continual basis.

The area around the lake has several walking/hiking trails which are, from time to time, restricted. This is the one most commonly taken by tourists. The Rockpile Trail along the actual moraine is approximately 300 metres long, with an elevation change of 24 metres. The view of the lake from the top of the rockpile is one of the most photographed locations in all of Canada. That view of the mountains behind the lake in Valley of the Ten Peaks is known as the Twenty Dollar View, as Moraine Lake was featured on the reverse side of the 1969 and 1979 issues of the Canadian twenty dollar bill. Along the same trailhead, the Consolation Lakes trail starts, which is approximately 3 kilometres long, with an elevation change of 90 metres. Upon reaching Consolation Lakes hikers may continue along to the upper lake, which is not visible from the end of the lower lake. There is, however, no clearly marked trail, and can often be a scramble over large rocky areas.

Near the canoe docks of Moraine Lake Lodge there is another trailhead. This trailhead is the start of two trails, one of which branches out into four different trails - so there are in total, five trails starting at that trailhead (Moraine Lake Lakeshore Trail, Eiffel Lake, Wenkchemna Pass, Larch Valley, and Sentinel Pass). The Lake Louise & Yoho Map provides information on these trails.

Source: 500px.com/BasicElementsphoto/sets/alberta

Source: flickr.com/photos/68394487@N07/6259628174/in/pool-416974@N22

Source: 500px.com/photo/66965927/moraines-mood-by-ted-gore?from=user

Source: flickr.com/photos/aytonimages/5988981048/in/set-72157627237481208

Source: ricardmnphotography.wordpress.com

Whitepod offers a highly exclusive Alpine experience. A hi-tech eco camp for just 30 guests situated over 1700m high in the Swiss Alps, offering the ultimate in luxury and adventure. Whitepod offers a high-tech solution to the challenge of creating a different, eco-friendly way of catching up with yourself, in the natural beauty of the Swiss alps both in Winter - and SUMMER ! The resort has left little mark on the environment, but made a great mark in eco tourism - Winning the Responsible Tourism Award for Innovation.

The 15 geodesic dome pods that make up Whitepod have been equipped with traditional furnishings and high quality insulation, which coupled with a simple wood burning stove keeps you comfortably warm in winter and cool in summer. Each pod sleeps up to 4 and is individually decorated. It contains a fully equipped bathroom with shower, toilet and sink, directly hooked up to a private water source. The pods are lit by lanterns. Covered with white canvas in the winter and green in the summer, they blend perfectly into the surrounding landscape.

The main chalet houses the dining and spa facilities. Far from the crowds, you have access to a private ski run with 3 lifts and 7km of pistes as well as forests and walks on snowshoe. All this outdoor effort builds up an appetite and the resident chef provides 2 nightly menus, one with traditionally hearty Swiss mountain food such as Raclette and Fondue, the other with lighter dishes using locally sourced ingredients.

Source: unusualhotelsoftheworld.com/Whitepod

Source: whitepod.com/

The Swiss Alps are the portion of the Alps mountain range that lies within Switzerland. Because of their central position within the entire Alpine range, they are also known as the Central Alps. The highest summit in the Swiss Alps is Monte Rosa near the Swiss-Italian border. The highest mountain which lies entirely on Swiss territory is the Dom. Other main summits can be found in the list of mountains in Switzerland. Since the Middle Ages, transit across the Alps played an important role in history. The region north of the St. Gotthard Pass became the nucleus of the Swiss Confederacy in the early 14th century.

The Alps are usually divided into two main parts, the Western Alps and Eastern Alps, whose division is along the Rhine from Lake Constance to the Splügen Pass. The western ranges occupy the greatest part of Switzerland while the more numerous eastern ranges are much smaller and are all situated in the canton of Graubünden. The latter are part of the Central Eastern Alps, except the Ortler Alps which belong to the Southern Limestone Alps. The Pennine, Bernese and Bernina Range are the highest ranges of the country, they contain respectively 38, 9 and 1 summit over 4000 metres. The lowest range is the Appenzell Alps culminating at 2,500 metres.

The Drift Bridge, Swiss Alps Switzerland

Source: flickr.com/photos/ceca67/5413519465/in/set-72157622889025163

Dream Lake is a high alpine lake located in Rocky Mountain National Park in northern Colorado, located east of the continental divide. The lake is accessed via the popular Bear Lake trail head and is at the base of Hallett's Peak, and is well known for its stunning views caused by surrounding steep cliffs, and a popular destination for casual hiking. Rocky Mountain National Park is a national park located in the north-central region of the U.S. state of Colorado. It features majestic mountain views, mountain lakes, a variety of wildlife, varied climates and environments from wooded forests to mountain tundra and easy access to back-country trails and campsites. The park is located northwest of Boulder, Colorado, in the Rockies, and includes the Continental Divide and the headwaters of the Colorado River. The park has five visitor centers. The park headquarters, Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, is a National Historic Landmark, designed by the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture at Taliesin West.

The park may be accessed by three roads: U.S. Highway 34, 36, and State Highway 7. Highway 7 enters the park for less than a mile, where it provides access to the Lily Lake Visitor Center which is closed indefinitely. Farther south, spurs from route 7 lead to campgrounds and trail heads around Longs Peak and Wild Basin. Highway 36 enters the park on the east side, where it terminates after a few miles at Highway 34. Highway 34, known as Trail Ridge Road through the park, runs from the town of Estes Park on the east to Grand Lake on the southwest. The road reaches an elevation of 12,183 feet, and is closed by snow in winter.