Discover South Iceland Highland
Glaciers – Volcanoes – Mountains – Waterfalls – Thermal Pools

Attractions : Skaftafell National Park and Vatnajökull Glacier

Skaftafell is Iceland's second largest National Park after Thingvellir. It lies in the Glacier Country, a remote but attractive part of the south. The park covers an area of about 1,600 km2 which spreads over three valley glaciers of Skeiðarárjökull, Morsárjökull and Skaftafellsjökull on the southern fringes of Vatnajökull. Founded in 1956, the park is one of Icelands distinctive natural attractions of extravagant beauty. The park & glacier lies about 200 km east of Hotel Ranga (150km from Hotel Skogar) on the main road. 

Most visitors concede that even by Icelandic standards it is unique. Nowhere in the country is the natural variety and contrast as abundant and evident as in Skaftafell. Vast glaciers, ice-blue glacial lakes with silent icebergs, forbidding crevasses, mute peaks, jagged rocks, gulches, canyons, hanging valleys, shimmering ice tunnels, giant grotesque ice-arches, ice-falls, mountain torrents, roaring glacial rivers, ice-cold mountain streams flowing in ravines with luxuriant vegetation and wild flowers, waterfalls, basalt columns of most unusual configurations, rare birds and plants, birch forest, lush vegetation, and many other natural marvels have created this tellurian spectacle.

It is no wonder that the park is one of the most visited in Iceland during the summer, both by Icelanders and foreigners alike. Part of its popularity lies in the fact that it allows close exploration of the massive Vatnajökull glacier. Skaftafell is also endowed with more sunshine hours than other parts in the south, as well as mild weather since it is shielded from rain and wind by Öræfajökull.

Svartifoss (name means "Black waterfall"), the famous waterfall dropping from the edge of a broad columnar basalt cliff which looks like the round wall of an amphitheatre, has become the symbol of Skaftafell National Park. The unusual configuration of the hexagonal basalt columns, most of them hanging from the lip of the cliff, has been the inspiration source for the architectural design of the National Theatre in Reykjavík. The route from the campsite to Svartifoss is one of the most trodden in the park and it takes about an hour to walk to the fall and return to the campsite, a journey well worth taking.

To protect the natural character of the park and its delicate flora and fauna, certain rules apply to the use of the park for hiking and trekking. In main areas of the park, such as the Skaftafellsheiði moorland, visitors must keep to the designated routes in order not to damage the fragile plants. Camping permits must be obtained from the park headquarters for camping in other places in the park. Climbing up the glaciers without authorized guides and proper equipment is not advised.

Vatnajökull is an amazing natural wonder. Located in the south-east of the island, it covers more than 8% of the country. With an impressive size of 8,100 km², it is the largest glacier in Europe. The average thickness of the ice is 400 m, with a maximum thickness of 1000 m. Iceland's highest mountain, Öræfajökull (2,110 m), is located in the southern periphery of Vatnajökull, near Skaftafell National Park. It is classified as an ice cap glacier.

Under the glacier, as under many of the glaciers of Iceland, there are several volcanoes. Vatnajökull has been shrinking for some years now, possibly because of climatic changes and recent volcanic activity.

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