Glaciers cover more than 10% of Iceland. They have been around way longer than any settlement and have gone through many phases of growing and melting. Icelandic nature is very vulnerable. Climate change is having a significant impact on Icelandic Glaciers. 

Jökull is the Icelandic word for glacier. A glacier is moving under its own weight, slowly down the mountains, forming crevasses and beautiful patterns. When a glacier stops moving it cannot be a jökull anymore, Okjökull in the west of Iceland was the first glacier to be declared dead in 2014.

With that there was a monument set up with a letter to the future that reads:

„Ok is the first Icelandic glacier to lose its status as a glacier.
In the next 200 years all our glaciers are expected to follow the same path.
This monument is to acknowledge that we know
what is happening and what needs to be done.
Only you know if we did it.“

A glacier that you can see from Reykjavík, when the visibility is good, is Snæfellsjökull. For the first time in recorded history the summit was ice free in the summer of 2012. This stratovolcano is one of Iceland’s smaller glaciers and is melting rapidly. Snæfellsjökull is located on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula within the Snæfellsjökull National Park and got world famous through the Novel Journey to the Centre of the Earth. A great way to get closer to Snæfellsjökull is a road trip around the entire peninsula.

Vatnajökull, the water glacier, covers around 7700km2 which is around 8% of Iceland. It has lost more than 15% of its volume during the last centuries but is still Europe’s largest ice cap. Located in Vatnajökull National Park, Europe’s largest National Park, it was inscribed on the World Heritage List.

There are 8 volcanoes located underneath the ice of Vatnajökull, two of them belong to the most active volcanoes of the country. Iceland’s highest peak, Hvannadalshnúkur, standing at 2110 meters, is widely visible from the south coast. 

The many glacier outlets on the southern side are famous for Glacier Hikes and Ice Cave Tours. Svínafellsjökull has been starred in many international movies, Skaftafell is a dream destination for hikers and camping in Iceland, Falljökull is famous for Ice Climbing and Glacier Hikes with a view of the ice fall, a very crevassed and beautiful of the glacier. The area around Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is a favorite to watch seals and floating icebergs. The icebergs wash out to sea and get back to a beach in smaller pieces, giving this place the name Diamond Beach. 

The southside of Vatnajökull is also famous for the blue ice cave tours. Gaining in popularity local guides take people in the underworld of Vatnajökull to explore the natural Ice Caves during the wintertime in Iceland. The region is a magnet for photographers, geologists, film makers and families alike.

The long glacier, Langjökull, can be seen from Geysir on the popular tourist road called the Golden Circle. Ice Cave Tours on this glacier are often man-made ice tunnels in the glacier that allow visits all year around.

Hofsjökull is very difficult to reach even though it is Iceland’s third biggest glacier. It can only be reached during the summertime since it is in the middle of the Icelandic highlands and capable cars and guides are necessary.

In between the two glaciers Mýrdalsjökull and the world famous Eyjafjallajökull lies a beautiful hiking trail called Fimmvörðuháls. Eyjafjallajökull became famous with the 2010 eruption proving its name to be a tongue twister for many foreign news reporters. Sólheimajökull, which is a part of Mýrdalsjökull, is a great destination for people not travelling further than the south tip of Iceland. Katla, one of Iceland’s biggest volcanoes, is located under Mýrdalsjökull as well.

There is one glacier in Iceland that has not decreased in size in recent years, Drangajökull. Iceland’s fifth biggest glacier is located in the Westfjords and is the only glacier located completely under 1000 meters, with the highest point being 925 meters.

Iceland’s glaciers play an enormous part in the identity of the country. Nowhere else do people live that close to the glaciers. There is great undertaking to take responsibility for the environmental footprint of locals and travelers alike. Off road driving is strictly prohibited and glaciers should only be explored with a local guide. The glaciers can tell us stories from the past, we have the honor to live with them today and it is our actions that decide what the future generations get to witness.