It was a chilly half-term break for Harrodians who joined the school trip to Iceland led by Head of Geography Mrs Shaw but the pay off was an action-packed tour taking in some of the most extraordinary natural wonders in the Northern Hemisphere.
Over five days, our intrepid band of 31 boys and girls from across the 13s up to the Sixth Form, and accompanying teachers, took in the spectacular waterfalls of Seljalandfoss, Skógafoss and Gullfoss and witnessed the water-blasting eruptions – some of which were up to 18 metres tall – of the Strokkur Geysir.
It was really beautiful but it did feel like we were in a different world as we walked between walls of ice on the glacier, smelt the stench of sulphur dioxide and peered through steamy mists at the geyser, collected black sand in cups and stumbled on secret lagoons and hidden waterfalls.
15s pupil Sophia
They donned helmets, crampons and ice axes to walk the glacier on Sólheimajökull, bathed in the Secret Lagoon, explored Raufarholshellir, the longest and best-known lava tube (cave) in Iceland, and took a bumpy ride on super jeeps for a tour of Þórsmörk, a beautiful nature reserve nestled in the highlands and amongst glaciers.
Less physically challenging activities involved: crossing the Bridge between Continents and looking at the Reykjanes Peninsula, one of the world's major plate boundaries, between the Eurasian and North American plates; visiting Gunnuhver Hot Springs - a geothermal area of mud pools and steam vents - and Thingvellir National Park; walking along the black basalt sand at Reynishverfi Beach, learning about Iceland's volcanoes and earthquakes at the Lava Centre, touring the southerly fishing village of Vík, and sightseeing in the capital Reykjavik.
We have to confirm our A Level subject choices at the end of this week. I had already decided on Geography but Iceland just made me feel more certain of having made the right choice.
15s pupil Nick
For 15s pupil Nick, the trip has helped him decide on his A Level subjects for next year. 'We have to confirm our subject choices at the end of this week. I had already decided on Geography but Iceland just made me feel more certain of having made the right choice. I am sure it will have inspired some younger Harrodians to continue with the subject too!' he says enthusiastically.
According to Sophia, another 15s pupil, the experience brought a new frisson to her GCSE Geography studies. 'It was really beautiful but it did feel like we were in a different world as we walked between walls of ice on the glacier, smelt the stench of sulphur dioxide and peered through steamy mists at the geyser, collected black sand in cups and stumbled on secret lagoons and hidden waterfalls,' she explains. 'I have learnt lots about natural phenomena in physical geography over the years but this trip made it all feel real and exciting.'
I have learnt lots about natural phenomena in physical geography over the years but this trip made it all feel real and exciting.
15s pupil Sophia
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