- Country: Iceland;
- Area: 18 km²;
- Length: 1.5 km;
- Height above sea level: 0 cm;
- Location of runoff: Atlantic Ocean.
One of the names that Iceland received among travelers is the "land of ice". This is due to the presence in it of a variety of natural wonders, such as glaciers and ice lakes. Of particular interest is the huge ice lagoon of Jokulsarlon. In translation this name means "lagoon of an ice river".
History of the Ice Lagoon
The lagoon of Jokulsarlon has its own history of appearance, which consists in the following. In the early 10th century, the first settlers arrived in Iceland. During this period, the fields of the ice massif Vatnajokudl took place 20 km north of the one that exists at the moment. In 1600-1900, the peak of the cooling came in these places, which is considered to be a kind of glacial period. In 1902, the edge of the glacier Vatnajokudl was recorded at 200 m from the sea. In the years 1910-1970 there was a warming, which provoked significant changes in the landscape of Iceland, including the glacier Vatnajokudl. In 1934, it began to melt rapidly, as a result of which it decreased in size and formed a gorge that later became an ice lagoon.
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In subsequent years, the area of the lagoon of Jokulsarlon increased significantly in size. In 1975, it was 8 km², and at the moment it already has about 20 km². Lake Jokulsarlon has the greatest depth in Iceland, which is about 200 m.
Icy Lagoon - description
Jokulsarlon is the largest glacial lagoon in the country. It is located in the east of Iceland, 400 km from the capital city of Reykjavik and 60 km from the famous national park of Scaftafell . Another landmark, which is located in close proximity to the lagoon, is the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajokudl .
The glacial lake is an incredible sight. In the crystal clear, icy water, the ice floes of blue or snow-white colors float unhurriedly.
The location of the lake is a gorge located in the lowest point of the country. This contributes to the fact that during the tides that occur in the warm season, the lagoon receives sea water. This explains the presence of marine fauna in the lake - it is inhabited by herring and salmon, and there are rookeries of marine seals.
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Feel close all the greatness of the Ice Lagoon in Iceland is possible if you book a walk on a special boat. This is one of the few places in the country where you can see floating icebergs near. They accumulate at the mouth of the lagoon, since the depth of the strait that connects it to the ocean is very small. Watching the icebergs, you can see a truly spectacular sight. The fact is that each of them can be characterized as unique because they all have different colors: blue, green, white and even black. This specific shade is acquired due to the impact of volcanic ash. Through the neck of the lagoon, a bridge is tossed over, where you can see icebergs thrown to the sand and resembling pieces of broken crystal.
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How to get to the Ice Lagoon?
If you during your trip to Iceland planned to visit such an amazing landmark as the Ice Lagoon, you can recommend staying at one of the hotels located in the town of Hofné , which is nearby. First you need to fly to Reykjavik , and then get to Hofn by bus. For example, this can be done using flights No. 51 and No. 52, which run twice a day.
In addition, you can get to the Ice Lagoon from the largest airport in the country Keflavik , which is located 3.1 km west of the city of Keflavik and 50 km from Reykjavik. From the airport to the lagoon, a regular bus runs.