Glaciers are some of Earth’s most ethereal — and mighty — natural phenomenons. But few are more stunning than Iceland’s Vatnajökull ice cap. Covering more than 3,000 square miles (7,769 square kilometres) and eight percent of the country, it’s not only Iceland’s largest glacier but the largest in Europe.
It’s said that if Vatnajökull was spread evenly over the entirety of Iceland, it would form a 98-foot-thick layer of ice. But it’s not just the size of Vatnajökull that makes it remarkable: beneath its glassy surface lies seven active volcanoes, caldera lakes, and bubbling cauldrons of geothermic activity.
Glacial lagoons, national parks, and more: Exploring Vatnajökull
In addition to being enshrined as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, Vatnajökull National Park was recently named one of the most important geologic sites on the planet by the International Geological Union, thanks to its diverse, otherworldly landscapes that have been shaped by fire and ice.
At nearly 5,000 square miles (12,949 square kilometre), the vastness of Vatnajökull National Park can feel difficult to comprehend. But it’s not too hard to see and experience the beauty of the area firsthand. The park’s Skaftafellsstofa Visitor Centre in Skaftafell, Iceland (about a four-hour drive from Reykjavík) is open year-round and provides direct access to the Skaftafellsjökull glacier, part of the greater Vatnajökull glacier. Skaftafellsjökull is best visited in the winter, when the glacier grows to lower elevations (you can make the trek in about two hours) and turns bright blue.
Vatnajökull may be the park’s namesake, but there’s plenty on the property for visitors to see and delight in. About 35 miles (56 kilometre) east of Vatnajökull, travellers can find Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon that sits between the base of the glacier and the Norwegian Sea. One of Iceland’s most popular tourist sites, its (very photogenic) blue, glacial-fed waters are filled with stray icebergs. Walk a bit further and you’ll find Diamond Beach, named for the chunks of ice that wash up on its black sand shores.
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You can see Vatnajökull glacier, Jökulsárlón lagoon, and Diamond Beach on one outing from Reykjavík, but if you’d like to make a larger expedition out of the adventure, consider embarking on a trip down Iceland’s “Ring Road,” aka Route 1, a popular way to see the vast natural wonders of the country.
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(Feature Image Credit: FEBRUARY/Getty Images)
This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com
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