Hoffell

Pixelated shadows cast doubt on reality as dense night clouds forge across the sky, shielding the battered sun. Musty fields shorten with the distinct crackle of dried yellow foliage, slowly trudging onwards. A visible spectrum of layered glitches twinkle in and out, flickering through wavelengths of orchestrated interference.

Polarizing Crystal

Polarizing Crystal: Iceland spar, a uniquely clear variety of calcite, can be found in the Hoffellsfjöll mountains. Sunstone, as the Vikings called it, was an important tool in navigating the open ocean, allowing navigators to determine the location the sun, within a few degrees, on overcast days or even after the sun has set. Iceland spar possesses a rare property which evenly divides a light ray passing through it into two distinct rays of light. This double refraction can cause objects to appear as double when viewed through the crystal. Iceland spar could be particularly useful in areas where magnetic deviation can confuse a compass. The unique light properties of this polarizing crystal could also have made it useful as a sundial to help track time on cloudy days or after sundown.

Unusual Geology

Rocks and mountains in the Hoffell region are unique in that they are made up of gabbro. In contrast to basalt found throughout much of the rest of Iceland, an igneous rock formed by the lava cooling quickly, gabbro is formed by lava cooling slowly. The slow cooling process causes large crystals develop, creating a course-grained, durable rock, that is dark-green in color. Gabbro is often found in deep oceanic crust or ancient mountains, but glacial erosion and uplift, caused when the massive weight of glaciers is removed as they retreat, have made gabbro now visible on the surface around Hoffell.

Harvesting Ice

In the early 1900's glacial ice from Hoffellsjökull was brought to the local fishing village of Höfn, meaning "harbor", and was used to keep fish and other goods cool.

Silver Leaves

A particularly fertile region, Hoffell is home to a number of plants and animals that are not as common throughout the rest of the island. One rare plant found here is the Silver Saxifrage, which gets its name from dried calcium carbonate deposits on its thick leaves. Wild reindeer can also be found in the region in winter and the shoulder seasons when they come down from the mountains to graze.

Underwater

Believed to have been part of the sea floor in the past, the region of Hoffell is located near the northeastern point of Vatnajökull and is home to many outlet glaciers, including Hoffellsjökull. From Vatnajökull, Hoffellsjökull carves through the ancient Geitafell volcano, and terminates at an ever-expanding glacial lagoon. The meltwater from Hoffellsjökull then flows through the region and eventually to the nearby coast. As Vatnajökull receives a significant amount of precipitation, it produces more meltwater, causing a faster water cycle on the southern side of the massive ice cap than many other places in the world.