The Turtle Expedition Explores Iceland

Photojournalist-adventurers who trek to some of the world's wildest, most exotic locations in their custom-made 4 x 4 truck (dubbed the "turtle expedition"), Gary and Monika Wescott here visit Iceland, land of fire and ice. Lightly populated, Iceland is home to glaciers and volcanoes, as well as other natural wonders such as ice caves, deserts, waterfalls, and geysers. With few paved roads, the country is the 4-wheel-drive capitol of the world (indeed, much of Iceland is so desolate that NASA selected it for training in lunar landings). The Wescotts visit a remote weather station, bathe in a refreshing hot spring, and drive onto a glacier (taking care to avoid the yawning cracks and crevices), while an ice cave offers an ominous scene of darkness and dripping water, coupled with a symphony of groaning and shifting ice (small wonder natives once thought such sites to be haunted). Although a volcanic eruption several centuries ago killed thousands of Iceland's residents, vegetation has now grown over the rocky site, which may be peeled off like a carpet. While Iceland offers interesting sights and folklore, the main interest here is simply the challenge of getting around. Offering excellent production values and offbeat subject matter, this cool video is warmly recommended as a fine complement to Letters Home from Iceland (VL-11/92) for public library travel collections. Aud: P. (S. Rees)