Icelanders like to take advantage of their island's readily available geothermal energy.

The Krafla Power Station is a 60 MW geothermal power station located near the Krafla Volcano in Iceland. It is the nation's largest geothermal power station, drawing heat from some 33 boreholes, about 15 of which are used at any one time. About 15 employees work there, full-time. 

We're looking at a cooling tower for water that has been heated by geothermal energy.  Anton told us that if weren't for this cooling tower, the power plant would keep the entire valley enveloped in fog.

Driving by the power plant.

And as we were driving along we noticed something a little different about some of the steam vents in the ground.  Look closely: see that metal lid over there?

Yeah, that.

Well this is where the locals have built their geothermal bread-baking ovens.  Icelanders just love their geysir bread.  Every family has its own special recipe and is convinced that its bread is better than anybody else's.

In fact, this is where Anton's family bakes its geysir bread.  (Have I mentioned that Anton is in college majoring in rural tourist management?)

Yep, the current batch of bread is right down there.

Anton checks on the bread's progress.  Icelandic ryebread, or rugbrauð is traditionally prepared over the course of twelve or more hours by placing the dough into covered pots and sinking these into geothermal vents.

Looking good.

Here's the interior of an empty oven.

Patty approves.

Anton promises we can eat some of the bread at lunch.

Great.  Let's get out of this place and have ourselves some lunch.