13th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
A lavaflow cave in Iceland

The Reykjanes Penninsula is basically one giant lava field. In all directions there is this other-worldly porous black rock with a faded green moss growing on top of it. It truly is unique and beautiful. There are dozens of roadside stopoffs, where you can soak in the environment. At one of these stopoffs, between Reykjavik and Grindavik, we found a rather deep cave with a wooden staircase. The nature of the lava rock allows for passages and chambers off into the darkness, but the green grass in the chamber's opening didn't seem to care about the rocks and darkness surrounding it.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 08.2015
Date Uploaded: 09.2015
Photo Location: Iceland
Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T2i
Copyright: © Jonathan Washer