Understand Icelands Forces Of Nature
Icelands geography & climate is unlike any other.
In the museum, you will learn about their natural wonders like how earthquakes created techtonic plates and how volcanic activity has generated geothermal energy.
Along with that, you will also learn everything their is to know about Icelands glaciers and why they are so important to protect.
If you plan on touring the Golden Circle, this exhibit will get you prepared for some of what you will see!
Get The Best View Of Reykjavik City
The Observation Deck on Perlans 4th floor completely encircles the dome of Perlan, providing an unbroken and breathtaking 360° view over the Reykjavik area. There are lots of informational signs indicating names of points of interest on the horizon. You can see the landmarks of Reykjavik city, Mount Keilir a cone-shaped volcanic mountain, and the Snæfellsjökull Glacier, to name just a few.
On a beautiful day, you can take magnificent photos of Reykjavik from the 360-degree Observation Deck. This is one of the best viewpoints in Reykjavik because you can also see the stunning landscapes of the surroundings.
Adults need a ticket to enter the Observation Deck, but its included in all of these Perlan museum tickets.
Good to know: Inside Perlan, there is also a restaurant with huge glass windows and fantastic views. Its a great place to have lunch or dinner, or just get a cup of coffee with some cake.
Perlan Ice Cave & Glacier Museum
The first glacier exhibition ever to open in Perlan museum was an extraordinary ice tunnel. A few minutes from the center of the capital and all of a sudden you are inside a man-made ice cave. This magnificent creation takes you on a visual journey of the past, present and the possible future that awaits the Icelandic glaciers. The ice tunnel is 100 meters long and is built with over 350 tons of actual snow retrieved from the Bláfjöll mountain area .
Another way Perlans exhibition Wonders of Iceland invites you to explore the icy wonders of Iceland is through the impressive interactive glacier exhibition. Guests are welcomed to learn all about Icelandic glaciers from the way they form, to how they affect the land and eventually the effects climate change has on them. All of this is displayed through the most cutting edge technology which portrays the unique nature in Iceland.
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Get Up Close To Puffins On The Bird Cliffs
Látrabjarg in the Westfjords of Iceland is the biggest sea-bird cliff in Europe and considered by many to be one of the most spectacular in the world. However, Westfjords is usually not a place many first-time visitors include in their Iceland itinerary, and the birds are only there for a few months in summer
So while it may not be possible to visit Látrabjarg during your trip to Iceland, it WILL be possible to enjoy some of its sights by visiting the realistic reconstruction of the bird cliffs at Perlan!
The model of the cliff rises an impressive 10 meters into the air. When you stand at the bottom and look up, it almost feels as if youre looking at the real thing! The rocks are covered with bird and plant specimens, including nesting puffins and other sea-birds. Make sure to check out the special binoculars standing by the bird cliffs at Perlan for augmented reality experience. Its as if you are looking at the real birds flying around!
Enjoy Reykjavik All Year Round
As you might already know, Iceland is famous for its ever-changing weather and with the best will in the world, none of us enjoy sightseeing in the rain. Furthermore, Iceland also has very short daylight hours in winter . So its not always possible to enjoy Iceland to the fullest
Perlan, however, allows you to enjoy the many cultural and geological aspects of Iceland all year round and in any weather.
Perlan Museum is a great place to visit in Reykjavik when it rains, when you want to escape the cold weather, or when you have endless dark hours to fill when visiting Reykjavik in winter.
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Seven Wonders Of Canada
The Seven Wonders of Canada was a 2007 competition sponsored by CBC Television‘s The National and CBC Radio One‘s Sounds Like Canada. They sought to determine Canada’s “seven wonders” by receiving nominations from viewers, and then from on-line voting of the short list. After the vote, a panel of judges, Ra McGuire, Roy MacGregor and Roberta L. Jamieson, picked the winners based on geographic and poetic criteria. Their seven picks were revealed on The National on June 7, 2007. The Seven Wonders as chosen by Canada were the Sleeping Giant, Niagara Falls, the Bay of Fundy, Nahanni National Park Reserve, the Northern Lights, the Rockies, and the Cabot Trail.
Learn About Icelands Wildlife
Iceland has very few natural mammels and when you visit the museum you will learn all about the various animals species you will find on the island.
One thing I found quite interesting is that out of the near 30 animal species in Iceland, there is only one land mammel that is actually native to the island, the Arctic fox.
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Restaurant Caf And Gift Shop
Út í Bláinn Restaurant is set on the top floor of the dome with incredible views over the Reykjavík Peninsula. They offer a bistro-style with a lively, light atmosphere with an emphasis on simplicity and seasonal ingredients. Open from 11:30 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 22:00, its a place where Icelandic food traditions meet classic European cuisine.
The Kaffitár Café is on the fourth and fifth floors and open every day from 8:00 to 23:00. Their philosophy is to indulge their customers and support their farmers. Over 85% of their coffee comes from direct trade and farms that have a Rainforest Alliance environmental certification. As well as coffee and drinks, they offer sourdough bread, cake, ice cream, quiche, sandwiches, and other snacks.
Rammagerðin Gift Shop, established in 1940, is one of the oldest gift stores in Iceland. They make a point to cooperate with craftspeople and designers all over the country. Over 100 women hand knit for the company on a regular basis with traditional Icelandic wool and their items are intended to emphasize the culture and heritage of their people.
Perlan + Wonders Of Iceland
Perlan, Icelandic for The Pearl, is a landmark building in Reykjavík, Icelands capital. It stands on top of Öskjuhlíð Hill and has an iconic glass dome set atop several large hot water tanks. At 25.7 meters high, it can be seen from all over the city. Around the building there is a network of walking and cycling paths through various flora and wooded areas for you to explore. Inside, there is a newly installed Wonders of Iceland Exhibition with an incredible Glaciers and Ice Cave along with a Vatnajökull Glacier educational area. Up in the dome you can grab something to eat at the Kaffitár Café or Út í Bláinn Restaurant. There is also the Rammagerðin Gift Shop which sells items made with traditional Icelandic materials. At the top you can venture out to the large observation deck and walk around the entire dome for views of Reykjavík in every direction. Admission to the building and viewing platform is free, but all of the other exhibitions have an entrance fee. It is open from 10:00 to 22:00, and more information can be found on their website.
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Experience The Whole Of Iceland From One Location
If your time in Iceland is limited or if you are traveling with young children or people with limited mobility it may not be possible to experience everything that this incredible country has to offer. Even if you have more time in Iceland, you just cant see the Northern Lights in summer or find puffins in winter
Thats what makes the Perlan museum so special. Its almost a one-stop-shop for experiencing all the natural wonders of Iceland!
As youll see further in this article, at Perlan in Reykjavik youll be able to view the Northern Lights, watch sea-birds nesting on a cliff, and even experience the frigid temperatures of a cave made of ice. On top of that, you can learn all about volcanoes and glaciers and see how its all been changing and turning Iceland into the country that it is today
All of that in one place, in any season, and in any weather conditions.
Walk Inside A Real Ice Cave
A visit to a real ice cave isnt something many of us get to do, even on a trip to Iceland! If you want to visit a natural ice cave in Iceland, I have some tips for you further below, but first back to the Perlan museum and its very real ice tunnel.
Perlans Ice Cave and Tunnel the first of its kind in the world is undoubtedly one of the main reasons to visit Perlan in Reykjavik! 350 tons of snow from Icelandic mountains were used to create this man-made marvel.
Perlan ice tunnel is 100 meters long and it truly feels like walking inside the glacier. We have visited ice tunnels inside the glacier in several places in Switzerland, including ice tunnels at Furka Pass, on Mount Titlis, and at I can tell you that the ice tunnel in Perlan in Reykjavik is as impressive as any of the real ones in the mountains.
Part of the stunning Wonders of Iceland exhibition, the cave takes about 10 to 15 minutes to walk through. The colors of the ice are stunning, with realistic little nooks and crevasses. They even used some volcanic ash to make it look as real as possible. Also, as you would expect from a REAL ice cave, the temperature is very low, at -15°C . But if youve forgotten your coat, youll be pleased to know that there are warm jackets available to borrow!
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Great Introduction To Iceland
Having a free day before our Iceland tour started we decided to check out the Perlan, which was recommended by our tour manager. Good choice! Very interesting and informative displays about the geothermal features of the country, the history of it’s settlement, the effects of human activities and climate change on the native flora and fauna, and other subjects. The northern lights show was very well done and the volcano film was awesome. The museum is compact enough that you can see pretty much everything in 2-3 hours. The gift shop has a lot of unique items as well.
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I do not know, if there is a bus, but we had a walk there from city center. It is not very far and as there is no big traffic on Iceland, it is very easy to get there. Last kilometer is in the woods, so you can see the nature.Perlan itself is having a lot of nature-related exhibitions , there is a restauration on top floor and all direction outlook.
We had so much fun – we did everything we could and everything was great. Really interactive and fun, we turned into big kids again. We even got to have an ice cream on the roof over the city. Would definitely recommend to anybody visiting the city as it included things from a lot of other museums and more!
Wonders Of Iceland Exhibition
In 2017, the Perlan Museum revealed its Wonders of Iceland Exhibition, which features a 100-meter-long man-made ice cave with over 350 tons of compacted snow and ice. Instead of cutting a ribbon at the opening ceremony, the mayor was invited to cut through a chunk of ice with a chainsaw. Its built inside one of the large water tanks by a method that accurately replicates the formation of an ice tunnel through a glacier. This is the first of its kind in the world! Picturesque scenes and mirrors help to realize the experience as you safely walk across a stable metal grate floor. The temperature inside is -10°C , and it takes about 10 to 15 minutes to explore. You do not need special shoes for the ice cave, and they will even lend you a vest to keep warm. Photos are welcomed, but food and drinks are prohibited.
On the second floor there is an interactive exhibition on the Vatnajökull Glacier and glaciers throughout Iceland. Visitors can touch three-dimensional topographic maps and learn about how the effects of climate change are jeopardizing the future of their existence throughout the world. In May 2018, several more exhibitions will open including the Land, Coast and Ocean and the Icelandic Museum of Natural History. A planetarium and a Northern Lights museum are also planned to follow. All together, they will make up the largest nature exhibition in Iceland.
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See Puffins Through Virtual Reality
Probably the coolest display is the one on Puffins.
If you arent familiar with Puffins, they are just about the cutest bird you can find on the planet and make Iceland their home at least part of the year.
While there are nearly 9 million Puffins in Iceland, I have yet to spot one during the half dozen times Ive been there! And believe me, I have made efforts to find these ellusive birds.
The exhibit inside Perlan allows you to view puffins at Látrabjarg Cliff through a virtual reality experience.
Algonquin Highlands Heritage Map
Geographic location: Lot 4, Conc. A, Sherborne
Current address: 20130 Hwy 35 on St. Nora Lake
Date range:1944 – present
Interesting facts:
In 1944 the Province of Ontario and the University of Toronto Faculty of Forestry entered into a partnership to educate government personnel and university students. For many years the site was known as the Ranger School and later, the Ontario Forest Technical Training School. Many courses were taught to government personnel. Students from various faculties at the University came to the school each year on field trips.
In 1969, the schools curriculum of resource management was taken over by Ontarios colleges and universities. That was the first time the future of the property that would become the Frost Centre, was in doubt. In 1974, Ontario Premiere William G. Davis announced that the facility would be developed as a demonstration area in resources management, education and recreation and would be called The Leslie M. Frost Natural Resources Centre. The Centre became the first outdoor education Centre in the province dedicated to environmental and resource management education. It was also the first Centre to have a large crown land management unit , associated with it for research in and demonstration of resource management, recreation and public education.
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The Wonders Of The Perlan Museum
The Perlan Museum is a place where you see and feel Icelands natural wonders in an unconventional way. Glaciers, ice-caves, geological features, and a planetarium are only some of the great things you will see here.
Ingimundur Sveinsson was the architect behind the perfection of Perlan Museums building. A dome made out of glass resting on six tanks filled with millions of liters of geothermal hot water, and a hollow steel frame that keeps everything together.
The Perlan Museum is a place where you see and feel Icelands natural wonders in an unconventional way. On our visit to the museum, we were astonished by the cuts of details in every exhibition.
Perlan Exhibitions Views & Restaurant
Lets be real. A lot of museums are really boring. However, the award-winning Perlan museum in Reykjavik does an amazing job at pulling you in and making you feel immersed in Icelandic nature. The exhibits are fascinating, engaging, and interactive. We were intrigued by the deep look into the geological activity of Iceland and mesmerized by the beautiful videos including the outstanding and moving Northern Lights Planetarium Show. Of course, taking in the roof-top views at sunset was an unbeatable way to enjoy the surrounding scenery.
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Rra Northern Lights Planetarium Show
Even if youve seen the aurora in person like we have, this mesmerizing show explains so much of the science and mythology behind this mysterious natural light show. We dont want to give away too much about it, but the award-winning planetarium show is definitely worth your time. It brought me to tears and taught us so much about our beloved northern lights. We actually saw them the night after and thought they were that much more wonderful having learned what we did.
Visit The Rra Planetarium
One of the first things you should do when you arrive at the Perlan Museum is to find out the time schedule for the Áróra Planetarium show.
Running through out the day, this show takes you on a journey to understand how Aurora Borealis form, where you can see them, and how cultures made sense of this natural wonder.
You can see the Aurora Borealis in Iceland during certain times of the year & this show does a great job of explaining what you will see.
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How To Get To Perlan Museum
There are a number of different ways to get to the Perlan Museum. If you’re during your trip, the most convenient option is to drive there from your hotel or the centre of Reykjavik, which is less than a 10 minute drive away.
If you’re not hiring a car, there’s also a free shuttle service between the museum and the Harpa Concert Hall in . However, do bear in mind that the minibus has limited seats and only runs from 10 am to 7:30 pm.
Alternatively, if you prefer to use public transport, bus number 18 will take you to the bottom of Öskjuhlíð Hill, where the Perlan Museum is located. Or, you can go on foot: it’s around a half an hour walk from in the city centre.
