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Attractions : Jökulsarlon, Glacier Lagoon

Jökulsárlón is the best known and the largest of a number of glacial lakes in Iceland. It is situated at the south end of the glacier Vatnajökull between Skaftafell National Park and Höfn. It is also one of the most famous attractions in all of Iceland. Many commercials and several major international motion pictures have been filmed at this exotic location, including James Bond's “Die Another Day” and “Batman Begins”.

Appearing first only in 1934-1935, the lake grew from 7.9 km² in 1975 to at least 18 km² today because of heavy melting of the Icelandic glaciers. Prior to 1950 the 1½ km long course of the glacial river Jokulsá was uninterrupted by any lagoon. Since then the glacier tongue has retreated and a lagoon, gradually increasing in area, has been created.

The average flow of the river is 250-300 m³/sec. and the edge of the glacier snout floats on the water. It calves into the lagoon and icebergs of different sizes can be seen aground and melting rather quickly. The river gets shorter and shorter, mainly because of the constant sea erosion, which eventually is going to destroy the bridge (built in 1967). The result will be a deep bay, which is going to grow longer the further the glacier snout retreats. Approaching a depth of 200 m, Jökulsárlón is now probably the second deepest lake in Iceland. Near Jökulsárlón, there are two other glacial lakes, Fjallsárlón and Breiðárlón.

The lagoon's surface has been lowered almost to sea level and sea water enters with the tides, increasing the water temperature. Salmon, capelin and herring enter the lagoon and the harbor seals follow the food. Eider ducks are very common on the lagoon. At its shore, in the summertime, one has to watch out for the skúas, big sea-gulls which have their nests on the ground around the lake.

Jökulsárlón is separated from the sea by only a short distance, and the combined action of the glacier, the river that empties from the lake, and the ocean may eventually transform it into an inlet of the sea. There are plans to prevent this from happening, since the only road in the area passes over the narrow isthmus. The lake is filled with icebergs, which are calving off the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. It is an unforgettable adventure to take a boat trip between these icebergs to admire the natural ice sculptures and the blue green color of the ice.

It is not far from the Icelandic Ring Road, and buses traveling between Höfn and Reykjavík usually stop there. Buses stop by the lagoon every day during summer. The distance from Hotel Ranga is about 280 km. Many people make this fantastic destination a day trip from Hotel Ranga and all say that it is well worth the effort to visit.

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