In Iceland, you can see the contours of the mountains wherever you go, and the swell of the hills, and always beyond that the horizon. And there’s this strange thing: you’re never sort of hidden; you always feel exposed in that landscape.
But it makes it very beautiful as well.
Hannah Kent
![Jökulsárlón (literally "glacial river lagoon") is a large glacial lagoon in southeast Iceland, on the borders of Vatnajökull National Park. Situated at the head of Breiðamerkurjökull, it evolved into a lagoon after the glacier started receding from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The lake has grown since then at varying rates because of melting of the Icelandic glaciers. The lagoon now stands 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) away from the ocean's edge and covers an area of about 18 km2 (6.9 sq mi). It recently became the deepest lake in Iceland at over 248 metres (814 ft) depth as glacial retreat extended its boundaries.[1] The size of the lagoon has increased fourfold since the 1970s.[2][3][4][5] It is considered as one of the natural wonders of Iceland.
The lagoon can be seen along Route 1 between Höfn and Skaftafell. It presents a picturesque parade termed as “A ghostly procession of luminous blue ice-bergs through the 17 km2 (6.6 sq mi) (18 km2 (6.9 sq mi) as reported in other sources) Jokulsarlon Lagoon”.[3]
Jökulsárlón has been a setting for four Hollywood movies -- A View to a Kill, Die Another Day, Tomb Raider and Batman Begins -- in addition to the reality-TV series Amazing Race.[3][6] A postage stamp depicting Jökulsárlón was issued in 1991 with a face value of 26 krónur.[2]
The tongue of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier is a major attraction for tourists. Tour operators conduct snowmobile and jeep tours to visit the glacier along the winding iceberg-studded Jökulsárlón Lagoon. The base station for visits to the area is at Joklasel, which is approached from Hofn. The Jökulsárlón lagoon provides outstanding views of the Ice Cap, which is a vast dome of ice that rises to a height of 3,000 feet (910 m). It spills to the lagoon 12 miles (19 km) away from the jagged glacier hill to the edge of the water line. The lagoon developed only about 60 years ago (1948 is mentioned), when the entire area was less than 100 feet (30 m) of glacier, which was only 250 yards (230 m) from the Atlantic Ocean, and 2 miles (3.2 km) away from Vatnajökull . Vatnajökull was at the shore line of the ocean and dropped icebergs into the ocean. However, it started drifting in land rapidly every year leaving deep gorges en route, which got filled with melted water and large chunks of ice. These icebergs gather at the mouth of the lagoon’s shallow exit, melt down into smaller ice cubes and roll out into the sea. The lagoon is the lowest point in Iceland with land at 200 metres (660 ft) below sea level. In summer, they melt and roll down the channel into the sea. In winter the lagoon freezes and locks the icebergs in place. Ice water and soil make a unique ecological phenomenon. Jökulsárlón lake or lagoon, the Icelandic “glacier lake” is now reported to have doubled in size in the recent 15-year period. The huge blocks of ice that calve from the edge of Vatnajökull are about 30 metres (98 ft) high which fills the lagoon stocked with icebergs.[5][7][8][9] Some icebergs appear naturally sculpted on account volcanic ashes from ancient eruptions that partly cover them.[10]
An iceberg with Vatnajökull in the background. The icebergs in Jökulsárlón, as well as this iceberg, are icebergs that fell off Vatnajökull.
An isolated iceberg on the sand beach
Glacial lagoon with icebergs
With the rate at which Vatnajökull is retreating and the lagoon is getting formed, in the near future, it is anticipated that there is likely to be a deep fjord where Vatnajökull is now. This retreat is also posing a threat to the National Highway Route 1 of Iceland. Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland is 250 kilometres (160 mi) from the lake and the road between the capital and the lagoon winds through a dozen other glaciers, which are also under retreat. It is 75 kilometres (47 mi) to the west of Höfn town and 60 kilometres (37 mi) east of Skaftafell National Park.[8][10] It is accessible by the ring road, Route 1, that goes across the lagoon, and where parking facilities have been provided for visitors. It is also known as the "Tourist Conveyor belt". While walking on the shore, isolated large blocks of icebergs can be seen on the black sand beach.[5] The picturesque scene of the Jökulsárlón lagoon and the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier have been part of the James Bond films A View to a Kill (1985) and Die Another Day (2002), as well as Batman Begins (2005)[3] and Beowulf and Grendel (2005). The popularity of the glaciers could be attributed to these blockbuster films, to Lara Croft's Tomb Raider and also to the popular commercials which have been centred on this location.[4][10] Choreographing the car chase scene, which was once called one of the greatest movie car chases of all time, between a Jaguar and Aston Martin, a set that was created for the film at the location of the lagoon was a challenge to 'Action Unit' Director Vic Armstrong, of the Bond film Die Another Day.[15]
The popularity of the lagoon has been further boosted by the TV coverage provided live from Jökulsárlón Lagoon on the American TV program Good Morning America (American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network) in southeast Iceland, on November 13, 2006. The "amazing landscape” covered on the TV programme not only included Jökulsárlón Lagoon filled with icebergs but also pictures of Antarctica and the polar ice caps, which were telecast live from Iceland. This live broadcast, which was made possible by a crew of 30 people, is reported to have been watched by 4 million people. Jökulsárlón è il più grande e più conosciuto lago di origine glaciale dell'Islanda. Situato a sud del ghiacciaio Vatnajökull, tra il Parco nazionale Skaftafell e la città di Höfn, apparve per la prima volta tra il 1934 e il 1935 e dal 1975 crebbe dai 7,9 km² agli attuali 18 km² di superficie, a causa dello scioglimento accelerato dei ghiacciai islandesi. Possiede una profondità massima di circa 200 m, il che lo rende probabilmente il secondo lago più profondo d'Islanda.
Una delle sue caratteristiche più sorprendenti è la presenza di numerosi iceberg che derivano dalla lingua del ghiacciaio del Breiðamerkurjökull.](https://www.photosontheroad.eu/wp-content/gallery/iceland/17072008-IMGP4489.jpg "Jökulsárlón (literally \"glacial river lagoon\") is a large glacial lagoon in southeast Iceland, on the borders of Vatnajökull National Park. Situated at the head of Breiðamerkurjökull, it evolved into a lagoon after the glacier started receding from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The lake has grown since then at varying rates because of melting of the Icelandic glaciers. The lagoon now stands 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) away from the ocean's edge and covers an area of about 18 km2 (6.9 sq mi). It recently became the deepest lake in Iceland at over 248 metres (814 ft) depth as glacial retreat extended its boundaries.[1] The size of the lagoon has increased fourfold since the 1970s.[2][3][4][5] It is considered as one of the natural wonders of Iceland.The lagoon can be seen along Route 1 between Höfn and Skaftafell. It presents a picturesque parade termed as “A ghostly procession of luminous blue ice-bergs through the 17 km2 (6.6 sq mi) (18 km2 (6.9 sq mi) as reported in other sources) Jokulsarlon Lagoon”.[3]Jökulsárlón has been a setting for four Hollywood movies -- A View to a Kill, Die Another Day, Tomb Raider and Batman Begins -- in addition to the reality-TV series Amazing Race.[3][6] A postage stamp depicting Jökulsárlón was issued in 1991 with a face value of 26 krónur.[2]The tongue of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier is a major attraction for tourists. Tour operators conduct snowmobile and jeep tours to visit the glacier along the winding iceberg-studded Jökulsárlón Lagoon. The base station for visits to the area is at Joklasel, which is approached from Hofn. The Jökulsárlón lagoon provides outstanding views of the Ice Cap, which is a vast dome of ice that rises to a height of 3,000 feet (910 m). It spills to the lagoon 12 miles (19 km) away from the jagged glacier hill to the edge of the water line. The lagoon developed only about 60 years ago (1948 is mentioned), when the entire area was less than 100 feet (30 m) of glacier, which was only 250 yards (230 m) from the Atlantic Ocean, and 2 miles (3.2 km) away from Vatnajökull . Vatnajökull was at the shore line of the ocean and dropped icebergs into the ocean. However, it started drifting in land rapidly every year leaving deep gorges en route, which got filled with melted water and large chunks of ice. These icebergs gather at the mouth of the lagoon’s shallow exit, melt down into smaller ice cubes and roll out into the sea. The lagoon is the lowest point in Iceland with land at 200 metres (660 ft) below sea level. In summer, they melt and roll down the channel into the sea. In winter the lagoon freezes and locks the icebergs in place. Ice water and soil make a unique ecological phenomenon. Jökulsárlón lake or lagoon, the Icelandic “glacier lake” is now reported to have doubled in size in the recent 15-year period. The huge blocks of ice that calve from the edge of Vatnajökull are about 30 metres (98 ft) high which fills the lagoon stocked with icebergs.[5][7][8][9] Some icebergs appear naturally sculpted on account volcanic ashes from ancient eruptions that partly cover them.[10]An iceberg with Vatnajökull in the background. The icebergs in Jökulsárlón, as well as this iceberg, are icebergs that fell off Vatnajökull.An isolated iceberg on the sand beachGlacial lagoon with icebergsWith the rate at which Vatnajökull is retreating and the lagoon is getting formed, in the near future, it is anticipated that there is likely to be a deep fjord where Vatnajökull is now. This retreat is also posing a threat to the National Highway Route 1 of Iceland. Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland is 250 kilometres (160 mi) from the lake and the road between the capital and the lagoon winds through a dozen other glaciers, which are also under retreat. It is 75 kilometres (47 mi) to the west of Höfn town and 60 kilometres (37 mi) east of Skaftafell National Park.[8][10] It is accessible by the ring road, Route 1, that goes across the lagoon, and where parking facilities have been provided for visitors. It is also known as the \"Tourist Conveyor belt\". While walking on the shore, isolated large blocks of icebergs can be seen on the black sand beach.[5] The picturesque scene of the Jökulsárlón lagoon and the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier have been part of the James Bond films A View to a Kill (1985) and Die Another Day (2002), as well as Batman Begins (2005)[3] and Beowulf and Grendel (2005). The popularity of the glaciers could be attributed to these blockbuster films, to Lara Croft's Tomb Raider and also to the popular commercials which have been centred on this location.[4][10] Choreographing the car chase scene, which was once called one of the greatest movie car chases of all time, between a Jaguar and Aston Martin, a set that was created for the film at the location of the lagoon was a challenge to 'Action Unit' Director Vic Armstrong, of the Bond film Die Another Day.[15]The popularity of the lagoon has been further boosted by the TV coverage provided live from Jökulsárlón Lagoon on the American TV program Good Morning America (American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network) in southeast Iceland, on November 13, 2006. The \"amazing landscape” covered on the TV programme not only included Jökulsárlón Lagoon filled with icebergs but also pictures of Antarctica and the polar ice caps, which were telecast live from Iceland. This live broadcast, which was made possible by a crew of 30 people, is reported to have been watched by 4 million people. Jökulsárlón è il più grande e più conosciuto lago di origine glaciale dell'Islanda. Situato a sud del ghiacciaio Vatnajökull, tra il Parco nazionale Skaftafell e la città di Höfn, apparve per la prima volta tra il 1934 e il 1935 e dal 1975 crebbe dai 7,9 km² agli attuali 18 km² di superficie, a causa dello scioglimento accelerato dei ghiacciai islandesi. Possiede una profondità massima di circa 200 m, il che lo rende probabilmente il secondo lago più profondo d'Islanda.Una delle sue caratteristiche più sorprendenti è la presenza di numerosi iceberg che derivano dalla lingua del ghiacciaio del Breiðamerkurjökull.")
Gorgeous photography of seems to be a stunning country.