Why
Vatnajokull Glacier
is special

Vatnajokull Glacier covers 8% of Iceland and is Europe's largest glacier by volume. The thickest part of the glacier measures about 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) deep. This wonder is home to the country's tallest mountain and most powerful waterfall.

Vatnajokull Glacier
tips and insights

Volcanic eruptions

Vatnajokull Glacier sits over a deep subterranean magna chamber and several large active volcanoes reside under the ice. One of them - Grimsvotn - erupted as recently as May 21, 2011. The resulting towering volcanic ash cloud forced some 500 flight cancellations in Europe.

Tourist activities

You can hike, trek, snowmobile, and flightsee - as well as take a super-jeep excursion or explore ice caves.

You can also hop aboard an amphibian tour boat on the adjacent glacial Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon (a wonder in itself). The boat sails between and close to numerous icebergs that were calved from a glacial arm of the Vatnajokull Glacier.

Name

Pronouce Vatnajokull Glacier:

VAT-nah-yehr-judkle

The name translates "glaciers of rivers". That descriptive label refers to the many outlet glaciers that move slowly down the Vatnajokull's mountain canyons.

The future

Some climatologists predict that Vatnajokull Glacier will all but vanish within the next 100 years because of a combination of global warming and decreased snowfall.

Location in Iceland

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Vatnajokull Glacier

Photo by Szynka - PD

 

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