Photo tour: The most beautiful places in Iceland

Ice and volcanic fire long ago sculpted Iceland into an otherworldly masterpiece, leaving behind a geological time capsule with all sorts of dramatic flourishes: Monstrous craters. Bright blue icebergs. Countless waterfalls. Even bubbling pits of earth spewing steam and sulfur.

This is why so many fantasy features have filmed here, including "Game of Thrones" and "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

It’s also a big reason tourism here has exploded. A record 2.2 million foreigners visited Iceland in 2017, up from 556,000 in 2011, according to the Icelandic Tourist Board.

More: 9 tips for Americans traveling to Iceland

If you can't make the trip, we've put together a slideshow of Iceland's most stunning landscapes. Click through the gallery above for a virtual vacation.

More: Rick Steves: 10 ways Iceland can kill you

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Photo tour: The most beautiful places in Iceland