Icelandic glaciers. The amazing country of Iceland. Glaciers The beauty of nature An excerpt characterizing the Glaciers of Iceland

Continuing your acquaintance with Iceland, you cannot ignore the topic of glaciers.

Glaciers of Iceland

Glaciers in Iceland occupy 11.1% of the total area of the country and have a significant impact on the landscape of the island. There are 13 large glaciers, among which the Vatnajökull glacier, the largest glacier in the country, occupies the first place in popularity among tourists. On the map below, you can see the glaciers of Iceland in the form of white spots, a huge white spot is Vatnajökull:

Photo of the tongues of the glacier taken from above:

Vatnajökull glacier in all its glory:

Huge blocks of ice are in constant motion, imperceptible to the eye. The glacier slowly slides down and melts - this is clearly evidenced by cracks on the ice of the melted lake:

At the foot of the southern tongue of the Vatnajokull glacier, between the Skaftafell National Park and the city of Höfn, there is a unique glacial lagoon Jokulsarlon, the depth of which reaches 200 m. The lake appeared in 1934-1935. and as a result of the melting of the glacier, today it has grown to 18 sq.m.

The coast of the glacial lake Jokulsarlon, formed by solidified lava:

A block of ice in the rays of sunset:

It is noteworthy that there are two more glacial lakes near Lake Jokulsarlon.

The wonders of nature associated with the glacier do not end there. In the Vatnajökull glacier, due to hot springs, the Kverkfjöll cave was formed under the ice. In the 1980s, this cave was measured: it turned out to be 2.8 km long and 525 meters wide.

Landscapes of Iceland

Summing up the sights of Iceland, I bring to your attention a variety of landscape photographs of this country in order to make sure once again that Iceland is unusual, and its landscapes sometimes resemble the terrain of other planets from science fiction films.

Young lava fields on which a new ecosystem is being formed:

Thorsmork Valley:

Valahnyukur mountain in Thorsmork valley:

Flocks of silly birds nest in the Thorsmörk valley in the Stakkholt gorge at an altitude of 100 meters above sea level.

Silly in flight:

Since we are talking about birds, it is impossible not to mention a bird called "dead end", of which there are quite a lot in Iceland. This bird with an original color is interesting in that when chasing fish, it dives and swims under water, using both its wings and legs.

Puffin caught a fish:

Let's continue the contemplation of volcanic landscapes:

The Atlantic coast near the village of Vik, from where you can see the rocks of the "Three Trolls":

Rocks "Three Trolls":

Vik village (South Iceland):

In the villages of Iceland, these well-fed sheep are grown:

Separately, it must be said about horses: in Iceland, all horses are very tiny, this is a special breed of "Icelandic pony", originating from the mixing of northern European forest ponies with Celtic ponies brought by settlers to the island in the 9th century.

These small but very hardy horses for a long time in Iceland were the only means of transportation, transportation of goods and even crossing water (Icelandic ponies are excellent swimmers), and field work was also done with their help.

Icelandic ponies can unerringly find their way home, no matter how far they go, so after the annual sheep grading, the farmers who sort the sheep often let the horses go, and they themselves return to their native valleys.

Coast near the city of Husavik:

The city of Husavik is located in a sea bay, ideal for whale watching and fishing. Boats with tourists ply the bay in search of whales. It happens that for the whole day it is not possible to see a single whale, and on another day you can catch a variety of animals performing unimaginable tricks.

Shallow water of the Khvita river flowing through the gorge:

And finally, another feature of Iceland is the northern lights:

If you decide to travel around Iceland by car, then the best route is as follows: St. Petersburg - Vyborg - Turku - ferry - Stockholm - Oslo - Bergen - ferry - Lervik (Shetland Islands) - Torshavn (Faroe Islands) - Seydisfjordur (Iceland). It should be noted that changeable weather in Iceland is a common thing. It may happen that at the end of May there will still be snow, and in December there will be prolonged thaws. Therefore, at any time of the year, equip yourself "with a margin" for unstable climatic conditions, and do not forget to purchase winter tires. And in order not to be a hostage of earthquakes in a mountainous area, not to fall under an avalanche or not to fall into a mud pit, follow the marked tourist routes.

Among all European glaciers, Vatnajokull has the largest dimensions. However, in the whole world it is surpassed only by the Antarctic and Greenland glaciers. The area of Vatnajökull is over 8300 sq. km, which is almost 1/12 of Iceland. Vertically, the glacier has an average size of about half a kilometer, but there are places where its thickness exceeds 1000 m.

(20 photos of ice caves in Iceland)

Due to the colossal size of Vatnajökull, even its branches (“tongues”) are named after themselves, like separate glaciers.

Usually a glacier is formed due to the fact that a large amount of snow cakes and compacts, but Vatnajökull has a slightly different story, dating back to the distant past.

The very name of the glacier is translated as “giving water”. And, true, Vatnajokull gave rise to many Icelandic lakes and rivers. When you look closely at the glacier, it looks like an endless snow field, and, having risen to its highest point, you can see both the ocean and the mountains inland at the same time.

Under a thick layer of ice there are several volcanoes, some of them are still active. During an eruption, lava splashing out of the vent leads to the melting of large areas of the glacier. When the ice melts, new fields are formed where you can graze cattle.

In 2004, there was a rather significant eruption of one of these "subglacial" volcanoes, Grimsvotna.

Not far from Vatnajokull is Dettifoss - the most powerful European waterfall, as well as Jokulsarlon - an icy lagoon with icebergs.

The glacier and lagoon are very popular for filming. So, for example, several moments from the film about Lara Croft and about James Bond were filmed here.

In addition, a short distance from Vatnajokull is the famous Skaftafell National Park, where visitors can see the local landmark Svartifoss, the name of which can be translated both as “black waterfall” and as “dark fall”.

So the waterfall was nicknamed because of the columns of black volcanic lava that surround it. Created such a miracle slowly cooling lava flow, part of which crystallized.

Going to the southern part of Vatnajokull, you can see the stunningly beautiful caves that have been formed in the thickness of the glacier for hundreds of years.

Their halls and tunnels are carved with water, which was obtained as a result of melting ice.

Due to the fact that there are very few air bubbles in old glaciers and icebergs, their ice has high strength and a blue color.

When melting, the water washes away the surface of the glacier - this gives the caves in it an amazing bluish glow, similar to the shine of precious stones.

Sedimentary rocks from the lower part of Vatnajökull slightly dilute the color scheme with darker shades.

Hekla Volcano, also called the "Gate to Hell" is an active stratovolcano.

The oldest recorded eruption of Hekla occurred in 1104, but scientists know for sure that it has been active for at least 6600 years.

The length of the mountain range, which includes the Hekla volcano, is 40 kilometers. And the most active part of the volcano is a crack in the rock with a length of 5.5 kilometers. The volcano got its name - Hekla - because its top is almost always covered with clouds - as if with a cloak, because the literal translation of Hekla is a short cloak with a hood.

His middle name - "Gate to Hell" - Hekla received from the monks. So, in a poem by the monk Benedita from 1120 about the adventures of St. Brendan, the volcano is mentioned as the prison of Judas. And in the 16th century, Caspar Peucer wrote that the gates of hell could be found in the bottomless chambers of the Hekla volcano, and the belief that Hekla was the gate to hell persisted until 1800. There is another story that says that witches gather here every Easter.

Over the past 900 years, there have been over 20 strong eruptions of the Hekla volcano. The last volcanic eruption was recorded on February 28, 2000.

Coordinates: 63.98757600,-19.67355900

Vatnajökull Glacier

The blue Icelandic glaciers are the hallmark of this extraordinary northern country. Well, the Vatnajökull glacier is one of the largest not only in Iceland, but also in Europe. The unusual local relief is explained by the action of underground volcanoes that erupted right under the ice surface.

The landscapes of the glacier are really stunningly beautiful and are fertile ground for amateur photographers. In addition, the line of sight on the glacier is one of the largest and is even listed in the Guinness Book of Records. The view opens up to 550 meters.

Coordinates: 64.54844000,-16.78710900

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Tjorsardalur Valley

The Tjorsardalur valley impresses with its diversity of landscape and richness of colors.

One has only to see this picturesque picture once to fall in love with it forever. Against the backdrop of sandy lava fields, the greenery of dwarf birches looks contrasting, and local rivers and waterfalls add all shades of blue to this natural idyll, which makes the Tjorsardalur valley unimaginably beautiful.

The Tjorsau, the longest river in Iceland, also flows here and is the most important source of electricity in the country.

In addition, it is from the Tjorsardalur valley that you can see the most active volcano in Iceland - Hekla. By the way, in 1104, after the end of the period of settlement of the island, the volcano woke up without warning and wiped out 20 farms in the Tjorsardalur valley.

Coordinates: 64.13390300,-19.85026100

Laigardalur Valley is everyone's favorite family recreation and amusement park.

There is a large outdoor pool on the territory of Leigardalur. You can swim in it all year round thanks to thermal springs. In addition, Reykjavik's main sports stadium and the Laugarsholla sports and exhibition center are located in the park. Here everyone will find something to their liking: walking and jogging paths, outdoor football fields and an indoor skating rink. A botanical park, a zoo and an amusement park will delight young travelers.

Coordinates: 64.14184000,-21.86711000

Hofsjokull Glacier

Hofsjokull is the third largest glacier in Iceland (after Vatnajokull and Laundokudl). It covers 996 km² and has a volume of 208 km³ and is the largest active volcano on the island. The highest point of the glacier is located at an altitude of 1765 meters above sea level.

From this glacier originate the rivers Thjoursau (the longest river in Iceland), Blandau and Hvitau (a tributary of the Yolfusa River), rich in hydropower resources.

The Hofsjökull ice dome has a diameter of almost 40 kilometers! Its largest basin is 7x11 kilometers in size, but besides it, the glacier has a number of volcanic outcrops. The fumarolic activity concentrated in the middle part of the complex is the strongest on the island, in other words, while the volcano is dormant, it releases the largest amount of water vapor and other gases into the atmosphere of all the existing glaciers in Iceland.

Coordinates: 64.84426800,-18.81024200

Mineral Museum of Petra

Since 1946, Petra's house in Stødvarfjordur has housed her collection of minerals. Petra began collecting minerals as a child. Fortunately, this area is very rich in them, some stones from the collection of Petra are 10 thousand years old. From year to year, she replenished her museum with new stones, and now all these lovingly collected minerals can be seen in Stødvarfjordur.

The minerals collected by Petra constitute one of the most magnificent and largest private collections in the world.

The Petra Museum is visited annually by about 20 thousand tourists, and Petra herself has not lived in her house for a long time, but comes here once a week to chat with visitors.

Coordinates: 64.83361200,-13.87428600

Waterfall Hafragilsfoss

Hafragilsfoss is one of the largest waterfalls in the mountain ice river Jö kuls Fjö llum. The waterfall falls with a huge crash from a height of 27 meters (89 feet) and is about 90 meters (300 feet) wide.

You can see the waterfall from both sides of the river, but the east side is more accessible and has a better view. To see the waterfall from the west side of the river, you must first have a little adventure and overcome steep climbs with the help of several rope ladders.

The view from here is very picturesque, so if travelers are close to this place, they definitely visit this waterfall either on their own or as part of excursions.

Coordinates: 64.66482300,-16.85483000

The most popular attractions in East Iceland with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in East Iceland on our website.

Blue Icelandic glaciers are the hallmark of this extraordinary northern country, 8 percent of whose territory is covered with ice. The unusual local relief is explained by the action of underground volcanoes that erupted under the surface of melting ice.

(Total 19 photos)

1. Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in Iceland, located in the southwest of the island.

2. Photographer Radner Sigurdsson says: “In 2008, this glacier became part of the Vatnajökull National Park. Nearby is Jokulsarlon, the largest glacial lagoon in Iceland.

3. Jokulsarlon developed into a lagoon after the glacier began to recede from the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The lake grew in size when the glaciers began to melt more actively. Radner Sigurdsson says: “The size of the lagoon has quadrupled since the 1970s. It is considered one of Iceland's natural wonders of the world."

4. One of the main business cards of Iceland is the area surrounding Vatnajökull. A number of scenes from the two films of the world-famous James Bond film saga A View to a Kill (1985), Die Another Day (2002) were filmed here, as well as the filming of Batman Begins (2005) and "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" (2001). Lake Fjaldsaurloun is located south of Vatnajökull. Icebergs drift on the surface of the lake. Tourists drop in here less often than on the Jokulsarlon glacier, but the scenery here is truly amazing.

5. This place is a real paradise for photographers. Tourism brings Iceland more than 30 percent of the total income of this country. Expeditions and excursions in national parks for those who want to admire icebergs are held regularly, tourists are assisted by an experienced guide.

6. “Some of the icebergs in the Jokulsarlon ice lagoon are really huge,” says Radner Sigurdsson. “Floating icebergs melt and move, making loud noises and causing waves. And then there are melting icebergs in the coastal areas of the Breiðamerkurfjara National Park, from which pieces of ice constantly break off and fall into the water of the lake.”

7. Ever since the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption in 2010, Iceland and its volcanoes have become widely known around the world, especially among fans of air transport, Radner Sigurdsson laughs. “This area is still covered in ash from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption. And besides, the whole amazing relief of Iceland is explained by the eruptions of underground volcanoes that occur under the ice cover.

8. Formation from hyaloclastite on the Hagafelsjökull glacier.

9. Volcanic ash covers an iceberg.

10. Arctic terns feed on krill and capelin in the Breiðamerkurjökull lagoon.

11. View of the lagoons from Mount Kverkfjoll, near the glacier of the same name.

12. Cracks in the Sidujokull glacier.

13. Moss and ice - this is how the Sidujokull glacier looks like, whose age is more than a hundred years.

14. Tourist boat in the Jokulsarlon lagoon.

Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in Iceland, located in the southwest of the island.

Photographer Radner Sigurdsson says: “In 2008, this glacier became part of the Vatnajökull National Park. Nearby is Jokulsarlon, the largest glacial lagoon in Iceland.

Jokulsarlon developed into a lagoon after the glacier began to recede from the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The lake grew in size when the glaciers began to melt more actively. Radner Sigurdsson says: “The size of the lagoon has quadrupled since the 1970s. It is considered one of Iceland's natural wonders of the world."

One of the main business cards of Iceland is the area surrounding Vatnajökull. A number of scenes from the two films of the world-famous James Bond film saga A View to a Kill (1985), Die Another Day (2002) were filmed here, as well as the filming of Batman Begins (2005) and "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" (2001). Lake Fjaldsaurloun is located south of Vatnajökull. Icebergs drift on the surface of the lake. Tourists drop in here less often than on the Jokulsarlon glacier, but the scenery here is truly amazing.

This place is a real paradise for photographers. Tourism brings Iceland more than 30 percent of the total income of this country. Expeditions and excursions in national parks for those who want to admire icebergs are held regularly, tourists are assisted by an experienced guide.

“Some of the icebergs in the Jokulsarlon ice lagoon are really huge,” says Radner Sigurdsson. “Floating icebergs melt and move, making loud noises and causing waves. And then there are melting icebergs in the coastal areas of the Breiðamerkurfjara National Park, from which pieces of ice constantly break off and fall into the water of the lake.”

Since the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption, Iceland and its volcanoes have become famous all over the world, especially among fans of air transport, Radner Sigurdsson laughs. “This area is still covered in ash from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption. And besides, the whole amazing relief of Iceland is explained by the eruptions of underground volcanoes that occur under the ice cover.