Year 13 Geography students explore the wonders of Iceland

At the end of last term, a group of Beacon Academy and Uplands Academy Year 13 A Level Geography students embarked on an unforgettable adventure to Iceland, where they explored the island’s stunning geographical features. The trip proved to be truly epic, with breathtaking landscapes and geological wonders around every corner.

During their time in Iceland, the students had the unique opportunity to experience the Northern Lights (not once, but three times!) under clear skies. They also had the chance to witness some of the world’s most incredible natural features.

Teacher of Geography, Mr Mannering, shared highlights from the trip:

“We drove through recently laid lava fields and an abandoned coastal town, where tectonic activity had literally split the town in two; swam in the world-famous 'Secret Lagoon' natural hot springs; witnessed hot water spouting from the ground to a height of 10 metres at Geysir - a sight so spectacular that all the world's geysers are named after it; and walked on the rift valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, where the two giant continents meet.

We stood above and behind world-famous waterfalls; walked to the ‘sun house glacier’, which is retreating so rapidly that a lake has replaced the ice at the front in just the last few years; and walked on a black volcanic beach on the southern tip of the island.

We ended the trip in Reykjavik, via one of Iceland’s largest geothermal power stations. In the capital we took a ride in the Flyover Iceland simulator, in which the state-of-the-art cinematic technology evokes a real flight across the island, swam in a naturally-heated outdoor pool, and enjoyed a final meal in the famous Hamburger Factory.”

This trip has not only given the students a deeper understanding of Iceland’s unique geography but also provided memories that will last a lifetime!