Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in Europe and the third largest in the world after the glaciers of Antarctica and Greenland. Its surface area is 8,300 square meters. km, which is about 8% of Iceland's area. The average ice thickness is 500 meters, and in some places it is more than 1 kilometer.
Black waterfall, ice caves and more in today's article.
The glacier is so huge that each of its many languages has its own name and is considered a separate glacier.
Unlike its counterparts, which arose from the accumulations of densely packed snow, the history of Vatnajökull goes back to the ice age.
The word “Vatnajökull” means “glacier that gives water” - so many rivers and lakes in Iceland emerged from this ice giant. Close up, the Vatnajökull glacier looks like an endless field of white snow, and from its top you can see a beautiful view of the ocean and mountains in the interior of the country.
Promotional video:
There are several living volcanoes under the glaciers. A huge accumulation of magma from the Grimsvotn volcano, located under the thickness of the glacier, began to erupt in 2004.
During the release of lava, a significant part of the glacier melts, from which it gradually decreases. After thawing, new pastures open up.
The nearby Vatnaekul neighborhood is just as tempting - the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon with its flotilla of icebergs and Dettifoss is the most powerful waterfall in Europe.
Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon:
The Vatnajökull Glacier is very popular with filmmakers. For example, some scenes in the film Lara Croft - Tomb Raider "were filmed on the glacier and in the Yokulsarlon glacier lagoon, and there was also filming for the James Bond film" Die Another Day ":
The Vatnaekul Glacier borders the Sfcaftafell National Park. On its territory is Svartifoss - a black waterfall or a dark fall:
The waterfall is surrounded by unusual hexagonal columns of black lava, which is where its name originated. These columns were created inside the lava flow, which cooled very slowly, which led to its crystallization.
In the southern part of the Vatnajökull glacier, there are stunning ice caves.
They were formed for thousands of years in the body of glaciers by melt water, which carved out amazing passages and tunnels.
The ice of icebergs and the ice of old perennial glaciers, due to the small amount of air bubbles, has a pronounced blue color and increased strength.
Melted waters wash away the upper layer of the glacier, and then the ice caves begin to shine from the inside, like polished gems.
In addition to the bright blue color in ice caves, there are other dark colors. These are sedimentary rocks that are found at the bottom of the glacier.
Iceland is just a different world, it is not Europe. Iceland has very little in common with all five inhabited continents and does not belong to any of them. This is a huge desert reserve, as if specially created for filming fantastic blockbusters and films about the wonders of the world. It is difficult to get there, but when all the obstacles are overcome, the sensations and views are breathtaking.