This year well over one million people will visit Iceland in search of wonder, tranquility and the promise of experiencing pristine untouched wilderness. As much as this helps Iceland’s economy, Icelanders are worried about the implications tourism is having on their country.

I returned this year to Iceland and experienced the wonder, strangeness, and growth of interest in this beautiful country. These photographs convey an austere gorgeousness and an almost amusement park energy felt by the people who come to see it. It is hard to believe this place really exists – and in the back of our minds we wonder how long it will last.