- Address: 75 kilometers west of Höbn, Iceland;
- Area: 18 km²;
- Length: 1.5 km.
Separating from the glacier Vatnayöküldl , the glacial lagoon of Jökülsaarloun, is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful places in Iceland . This is a unique natural formation, which appeared after the glacier began to move away from the coastal ocean line. Today it attracts a lot of tourists. Yes, and the Icelanders love to come here!
Features of the lagoon
The lagoon is located about one and a half kilometers from the coast. Its area is slightly more than 18 square kilometers. In fact, this lake, the second largest in the island with a maximum depth of 200 meters. It is noteworthy that in the last forty years the lake has increased in size about four times.
The lagoon is visible from the circumferential road that encircles Iceland . Organized tours are organized here. In particular, travel agencies offer the following types of entertainment: a 40-minute boat ride, snowmobile tours and all-terrain vehicles around the lagoon.
Charming northern landscapes attract filmmakers who choose local locations for shooting commercials, music videos and movies. If we talk about "big" cinematography, then there were made such popular films as: "Kind on murder" (1985), "Die, but not now" (2002), "Batman: Beginning" (2005).
History of the lagoon
The Vatnajökull glacier, which can rightfully be considered the "father" of the glacial lagoon, was formed many hundreds of years ago. Thus, the first settlers who sailed to Iceland in about 900 already found him. Although then the glacier was located a little elsewhere - about two dozen kilometers to the north.
The increase in the average air temperature, observed for forty years in the middle of the last century, negatively affected the state of the glacier. He began to retreat, leaving behind icebergs and blocks of ice of enormous size. Which was the reason for the formation of the lagoon - this happened in 1935.
The maximum depth of the lake is observed in those places where the ice thickness was maximum. And if, according to observations of scientists, in 1975 the total area of the lagoon barely reached 8 square kilometers, in 2016 it increased by 10 square kilometers.
Landscapes and natural beauties
Note that this is the lowest part of the whole of Iceland in relation to the sea level - it is located at a level of 200 meters below sea level.
By the way, from the shore you can see a beautiful formation called the Ice Cap. This is a huge dome, created by the forces of nature from the ice. The height of the ice cap exceeds 900 meters.
From the shores of the lagoon, the enchanting landscape views are opened. In warm times, the years of icebergs melt, but in winter the lagoon is almost completely covered by a layer of ice and huge icebergs. Splintering ice from the glacier, sometimes reach three dozen meters in height, or even more, which on certain days leads to a complete blockage of the lagoon.
According to scientists, in the next few years a fjord can form in the lagoon. In addition, the constantly receding glacier carries a certain danger to the circumferential road.
| | |
Fauna of the lagoon
In the lake there is a lot of sea fish - it gets to the lagoon during tides. There are seals here, but mostly in the winter months - they gather in these places to hunt fish: herring, trout, salmon.
Loved the lagoon and sea birds - mostly terns and pomornikovye family.
How to get there?
The glacial lagoon of Yokulsaurloun is located in the capital of the country of Reykjavik almost 380 kilometers away. The car will have to go 4 and a half hours. The car needs to be rented - in Iceland this will not be a problem. However, given the distance, the vehicle will have to be rented for at least two days, which is quite expensive.
The option with a hitchhiking trip is also not the best idea, as the weather in Iceland is not always happy, but it often rains, the wind blows.
So you can use the so-called Carpooling movement - the essence of it is that you need to find a person with a car that travels in the same direction as you, and pay half the cost of the ticket. In Iceland there is a special site for this - Samferda. On it the applications are left, both owners of vehicles, and potential passengers.
Excursion tours are organized to the lagoon, but in this case you will have to adjust your schedule for them.