Can You Go to Heaven if You Kill Yourself
Find out if Iceland is unsafe, even deadly, in this guide to local conditions. Read almost weather and terrain-related hazards and discover whether at that place are dangerous animals in Iceland. You'll too acquire well-nigh sand snakes in Iceland and whether to be worried about them. By being a well-informed traveler, you can assistance foreclose accidents and stay safe on your trip.
- Get to know the ins and outs of Travel Etiquette in Republic of iceland
- Find the 9 Worst Tourist Traps in Iceland
Why is Republic of iceland and so unsafe? The extreme contrasts in the atmospheric condition and nature are unlike annihilation most tourists accept always experienced. As a upshot, several tourists accept sadly died in Iceland. Many instances could've been prevented if people had been more than aware of their location and the possible dangers that Icelandic nature tin hold. That is why it'due south so of import to be prepared when traveling around Iceland, especially if y'all are on a self-driving tour.
The country is often called "the state of fire and ice," and that name should not be taken lightly. In light of recent fatal accidents taking identify at one of Iceland's most popular tourist destinations, Reynisfjara beach, we compiled the main dangers in Iceland that tourists and locals should keep in mind.
We want to help make your trip to Iceland an incredible and safe adventure. We promise to inform you of what to be aware of and to gear up for, many of the dangers inherent to Iceland tin can be avoided and accidents mitigated.
Before traveling in Iceland, make sure you read upward on how to drive in Iceland safely and inform yourself about the Icelandic search and rescue teams. Additionally, ever be certain you leave your travel plan with the search and rescue teams and avoid making preventable mistakes, then y'all don't need to waste their valuable time. We want our travelers to explore safely and return in one piece.
Deadly Icelandic Beaches
Some of Iceland'due south beaches are incredibly popular tourist destinations, specially the Reynisfjara black sand beach on the southern coast of Republic of iceland. Millions of people accept visited this stunning area, where you tin can admire the pitch black sand, the linear basalt columns, and the impressive waves of the North Atlantic Ocean.
These waves, however, are highly unpredictable and, therefore, one of Republic of iceland's dangers that is nigh oftentimes underestimated by travelers. They can be very high and large, and the undercurrent in the water ice-common cold body of water is powerful.
What'southward known as "sneaker waves" tin can also occur. This is when a single wave is much larger than the others, resulting in it sneaking further upwards onto the beach. Additionally, at that place are many large rocks with precipitous edges in the expanse where the waves crash.
Visually the waves expect spectacular, and so perhaps information technology comes as no surprise that tourists (and locals) tin can spend hours watching them and taking pictures and videos. The danger lies in getting likewise close to the waves. Even if it'south a nice and calm twenty-four hour period and you feel similar you're at a prophylactic altitude, a large wave tin can come up along and sweep you out to bounding main.
Someone gets caught past the waves almost every day. Whereas most people just become slightly wet clothes or shoes, some have their camera equipment ruined, and tragically, in that location have even been a few tourist deaths in Iceland equally a result.
In February 2016, a 40-yr-old Chinese man stood atop the middle stone in the picture above when a sudden wave took him out to sea, where he drowned. His wife and two children were with him just unable to salvage him.
In 2007, a 75-year-old adult female from the Unites States got defenseless by a wave and drowned. Three people jumped in to try to save her but couldn't reach her and put themselves in cracking danger at the same time.
The almost recent tragedy took identify in January 2017, when a German woman in her fifties was caught past a moving ridge and washed ashore a couple of hours later. She was traveling with her husband and two children. Her son (in his thirties) likewise got defenseless past a wave but managed to return to shore alive. In 2013, a four-year-one-time daughter ran straight towards the waves, simply fortunately, a guide reacted chop-chop and managed to run after her and swiftly pick her up before the next wave.
All of these incidents took place on nice and sunny clear days, so you tin imagine what the waves tin be like in the middle of winter when information technology tin can be stormy and snowing.
Take actress care when you lot go to Reynisfjara and any other embankment in Iceland.
Djupalonssandur on the Snaefellsnes peninsula is another popular blackness sand beach where people have gotten caught in the surf, although luckily, no one has died there and then far.
Make sure, under all circumstances, non to plow your dorsum to the sea or get lost in taking a selfie. The waves are much stronger than you'd expect, and heeding these warnings tin can be the difference between life and decease.
The Unstable Icebergs in Glacier Lagoons
Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon is one of Iceland's almost popular destinations, and it's not hard to empathise why. Impressive icebergs float around in a large lagoon about Europe'southward largest glacier, Vatnajokull.
In wintertime, yous can catch the northern lights dancing overhead, sometimes reflected in the lagoon and the water ice in information technology. This is a photographer's heaven and provides an array of stunning aurora photos.
When you go to the lagoon, you'll see signs that preclude people to walk on the water ice in the lagoon. There are unremarkably some tour guides nearby who tell people not to walk on the ice.
Nevertheless, some people are either are oblivious to the danger or cull to ignore it. They'll walk on the ice (or even swim in the lagoon) to a floating iceberg. This is oftentimes washed for an ever-and so-precious selfie.
Tourists in danger past Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. Motion-picture show by Gylfi Blöndal.
Although the water ice may be connected to land when you go far and looks safe to walk on, information technology can easily intermission off from the ground. If you detect yourself stranded on a block of ice in the lagoon, you lot're in danger since the ice can tip over without warning. You lot might not merely fall into the water ice-cold water just could also find yourself trapped under the iceberg itself.
The h2o is so cold that people can only stay in information technology for a few minutes before they get hypothermia and die. The current in the calm lagoon is besides powerful and can easily carry people out to sea.
Once again, people tend to misjudge how stable and condom the natural attractions in Iceland are, leading to fatal incidents - what's cute can too be dangerous in Republic of iceland.
Iceland's Unpredictable Weather
In Iceland, there'due south a saying that goes, "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes." The weather is constantly irresolute here, ofttimes quite suddenly. It can change dramatically in the same place in a matter of seconds and also modify drastically from one location to the adjacent.
These sudden weather condition changes ofttimes make for stunning, dramatic photos; still, this is also one of the things that can brand Iceland unsafe. With the vast scenery, you can see where at that place'south rain on your correct-mitt side, but the dominicus on your left.
The weather tin can be dramatically different depending on your location in the state. It can exist sunny and pleasant in Reykjavik, where you lot start your day, but a snowstorm in the Highlands, where you finish your 24-hour interval. This means y'all can drive through rain, snow, dominicus, wind, and fog, all inside the same hour or even in a matter of a few minutes! Welcome to Iceland.
Additionally, you should never underestimate the windchill factor here. This ways that you can hike through the same ever-changing conditions, so ensure you pack the correct essentials for all seasons.
Whereas snowstorms mainly tend to accept place in winter, they accept been known to take identify in the heart of summer. Snowstorms are more probable to occur in the Highlands, where you won't find much shelter or traffic.
Hiking in Iceland is a beautiful fashion to explore the country and is very popular. However, when you go hiking in Iceland, you need to be prepared for any weather, even in the summer. This is not an occasion to pack low-cal. Bring layers of wool or fleece and avoid wearing cotton or denim, as they get cold and lose their insulation capabilities when wet.
The well-nigh popular hiking road in Republic of iceland is Laugavegur, named after Reykjavik's busiest shopping street. Fifty-fifty though it's a busy route, y'all can nonetheless experience similar you lot're the only i on information technology.
In 2004, on a clear summer'south twenty-four hours at the stop of June, a 25-twelvemonth-old Israeli man started the hike from Landmannalaugar. He was poorly dressed in sneakers, light trousers, and a calorie-free jacket. The staff at Landmannalaugar warned him not to go hiking in this outfit since the route crosses a glacier and he might get cold, only he went withal.
He called the Icelandic Search and Rescue teams four hours later and reported he was utterly lost in a thick fog and getting very cold. A team of about 70 people went looking for him, merely he was somewhen found dead, only 0.6 miles (one kilometer) from a hut where he could've found shelter from the cold.
This is just 1 example of someone killed in Iceland due to insufficient clothing. Many more have frozen to death in the cold and unpredictable weather. Never underestimate how quickly the weather can plough, and always make sure that you're prepared for any kind of atmospheric condition.
Iceland'southward Potent Winds
Tour providers are unremarkably aware of any conditions that could bear upon your safety and cancel or reschedule tours that could put you at risk. However, it's always best to keep aware of changing conditions to ensure your safety.
In such situations, tour providers will either offer a different activeness, upshot a refund, or reschedule your tour to another day or fourth dimension. This is mutual in Republic of iceland, and tour providers are well-drilled in managing customers' safety in Iceland's ever-changing atmospheric condition.
Unfortunately, at that place have been cases recently where tourists have not heeded the alert of a red alarm delivering cyclonic winds to Due west Iceland and the due south coast. Sadly, this resulted in the decease of two Chinese nationals in their twenties near the Solheimasandur DC3 plane wreck.
The best rule of thumb is non to travel if you lot feel dangerous in Iceland's winds. If you are driving yourself, yous should always boring downward to a speed that yous're comfy with or simply don't travel. Always go along up to appointment with Iceland's weather and road conditions daily and heed the warnings of locals who have experienced these conditions many times before.
Other Dangers in Republic of iceland
We've listed the chief dangers in Republic of iceland. Whatever activity yous plan on doing, be sure to keep all necessary information well-nigh the location earlier doing anything rash. Be certain to await out for information signs in the areas you are traveling every bit well. These will warning you lot to possible dangers both on the road and at various attractions around the country.
Other dangers in Iceland include falling into cracks on glaciers, getting stuck inside unstable ice caves, or burning yourself on hot springs. Remember never to go hiking on a glacier or enter an ice cave unless you're with someone that knows the surface area and the landscape extremely well. Simply join in these activities under the supervision of professional guides.
Exist careful around hot springs, and don't step also close; you may not fall in, simply the surrounding mud tin be simply as hot, and your feet could sink into information technology.
Have note that off-road and off-rail driving is illegal in Iceland. The tracks can sometimes exist hard to see but are notwithstanding regarded as roads. If you can't encounter a clear rail, so you're driving off-road, and y'all're both damaging the local nature and possibly putting yourself at meaning risk (at the chance of a hefty fine at the very least).
Driving in the Highlands requires a four-wheel drive vehicle. Do not attempt to drive in the Highlands with a low-clearance automobile that doesn't take four-bicycle bulldoze; it won't end well but rather expensively. Your car volition most likely get stuck, and you may have to look a long fourth dimension before receiving help (too as pay for the damages to the vehicle).
Be careful when driving in Iceland every bit there are many unmarried-lane bridges. If y'all have an blow or get stuck somewhere, it tends to be a long way to the nearest gas station, constabulary station, or infirmary.
Although Iceland is a volcanic isle, you lot don't need to fear earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. No one has ever been seriously harmed direct due to an earthquake or a modern-day volcanic eruption in Republic of iceland. That is the one matter you do non have to be agape of in Iceland (observe out more about volcanoes in Republic of iceland).
Dangerous Animals in Iceland
Every bit you have no doubt noticed past now, most of Iceland's dangers are terrain or weather condition-related. Of course, that does non hateful at that place are no dangerous animals in Iceland. For the most part, you lot take nothing to fright from the Icelandic animals, except perhaps some birds attacking you when they're protecting their eggs.
Just be careful non to striking whatever birds, sheep, cows, or reindeer while driving, as y'all may wound or kill the animals, and the crash tin can also harm yourself or fellow travelers.
The most dangerous animate being in Iceland is probably the arctic fox. These are the just mammals native to Iceland and typically are not ambitious unless you lot try and pet i. However, with sharp teeth and a willingness to protect their young, these animals should non exist underestimated due to their cute and cuddly looks.
Sand Snakes and Other Misconceptions
Don't worry; there are no snakes in Iceland. This is one of those great trivia facts well-nigh Iceland that always surprise people. The climate is likewise common cold for those cold-blooded snakes (no pun intended).
Sand snakes are when potent winds blow sand through the air in a stream so fast that it looks like a snake. These are not unsafe but rather beautiful and, every bit some depict it, an "unworldly" experience.
If you oasis't noticed yet, there's a reason so many movies with exotic, out-of-this-earth environments are filmed here in Iceland.
There are very few spiders in Iceland, and none of them are unsafe to humans, so you have nothing to worry about here, either.
Although in that location are no polar bears in Republic of iceland, the occasional migratory polar carry has been known to arrive for a visit during frigid winters. It'south illegal to kill polar bears pond in the waters surrounding Iceland. However, should the ice-loving animals come up upwardly on land, they're considered a risk to humans and will exist captured and relocated or killed.
- See as well: Meridian 10 Animals In Republic of iceland Y'all May See During Your Trip
Concluding Thoughts on the Dangers of Iceland
While there are many dangers in Iceland, the biggest and nearly of import i is declining to be aware.
Y'all must set up for your trip with safety in heed kickoff. Brand sure when traveling effectually that you listen our advice in this article while likewise staying on height of the latest conditions and road weather daily. Also, make sure that y'all come dressed for the terrain, ensuring you remain as warm and dry equally possible in whatever potential turn of events. Don't ignore local communication or warning signs under any circumstances.
Whether you're traveling the island on a self-drive adventure, planning to bring together guided tours, or just taking a metropolis break to our outstanding upper-case letter, respect the rules and take our condom communication. We hope yous have a wonderful stay in Iceland, brand memories, enjoy once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and stay safe! Nosotros'd honey to answer any questions or hear from any experiences you've had in the comments below.
Source: https://guidetoiceland.is/travel-info/things-that-can-kill-you-in-iceland
0 Response to "Can You Go to Heaven if You Kill Yourself"
Post a Comment