FBWater, ice and fire - Iceland extreme in Vatnajökull National Park
In southeastern Iceland, Europe's largest glacier, the gigantic Vatnajökull, covers an area of around 9,000 square kilometers. Beneath it lie the world's most active and dangerous volcanoes. This extreme landscape is as dangerous as it is fascinating: glistening white glacier tongues, lagoons covered with icebergs, bizarre green lava mountains, snow-covered volcanic cones, solidified lava flows and imposing waterfalls overwhelm everyone who gets to see them.
In 2008, Icelanders declared the glacier and adjacent areas a national park, the largest in Europe. In this documentary, the team meets people who live, work or do research here: a life with the dangers of fire and ice in the overwhelming landscape of Vatnajökull National Park.
On average, Iceland is hit by a volcanic eruption every five years. In the summer of 2014, the largest lava outpouring in Iceland since 1784 began in Vatnajökull National Park, a historic event. 1,400 billion liters of lava spilled out in six months. The volcano initially came to rest, but now it is rumbling again! At any time, in any place, a new eruption could occur.
The island population relies on people who try to predict these natural disasters. One of them is geologist Freysteinn Sigmundsson from the University of Reykjavik. While he and his team are taking measurements in the middle of the crater of the gigantic Askja volcano to find out whether the glowing magma below will rise again, pilot Magnus Thormar is observing the volcanoes from above. A dangerous job in and above one of the most impressive, but also most unstable landscapes in the world.
But Iceland and Vatnajökull are not only a study ground for science, but also a place of deep-rooted mysticism. Bryndís Pétursdóttir is a seer. She has a mysterious connection with the Huldufólk, the hidden people, and the elves. The majority of the Icelandic population is convinced that these legendary creatures live among the people. But they only show themselves to a select few. Bryndís leads the television crew to places of special power where the mysterious creatures live. When a volcanic eruption is imminent, she feels no fear. Bryndís is convinced that the elves will appear in her dreams to warn her. One thing unites all the people who live in this extreme part of the world: a deep connection with one of the most magical places in the world, Vatnajökull National Park.
In 2008, Icelanders declared the glacier and adjacent areas a national park, the largest in Europe. In this documentary, the team meets people who live, work or do research here: a life with the dangers of fire and ice in the overwhelming landscape of Vatnajökull National Park.
On average, Iceland is hit by a volcanic eruption every five years. In the summer of 2014, the largest lava outpouring in Iceland since 1784 began in Vatnajökull National Park, a historic event. 1,400 billion liters of lava spilled out in six months. The volcano initially came to rest, but now it is rumbling again! At any time, in any place, a new eruption could occur.
The island population relies on people who try to predict these natural disasters. One of them is geologist Freysteinn Sigmundsson from the University of Reykjavik. While he and his team are taking measurements in the middle of the crater of the gigantic Askja volcano to find out whether the glowing magma below will rise again, pilot Magnus Thormar is observing the volcanoes from above. A dangerous job in and above one of the most impressive, but also most unstable landscapes in the world.
But Iceland and Vatnajökull are not only a study ground for science, but also a place of deep-rooted mysticism. Bryndís Pétursdóttir is a seer. She has a mysterious connection with the Huldufólk, the hidden people, and the elves. The majority of the Icelandic population is convinced that these legendary creatures live among the people. But they only show themselves to a select few. Bryndís leads the television crew to places of special power where the mysterious creatures live. When a volcanic eruption is imminent, she feels no fear. Bryndís is convinced that the elves will appear in her dreams to warn her. One thing unites all the people who live in this extreme part of the world: a deep connection with one of the most magical places in the world, Vatnajökull National Park.
