JÖkulsÁrlÓn (which literally means "glacial river lagoon") is a large glacial lake in southeast Iceland, on the edge of VatnajÖkull National Park. Situated at the head of the BreiÐamerkurjÖkull glacier, it developed into a lake after the glacier started receding from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The lake has grown since then at varying rates because of the melting glacier. It is now 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). The size of the lake has increased fourfold since the 1970s. It is considered as one of the natural wonders of Iceland.
The lake can be seen from Highway 1 between HÖfn and Skaftafell. It appears as a ghostly procession of luminous blue icebergs. The icebergs that calve from the glacier edge move towards the river mouth and get entrenched at the bottom. The movement of the icebergs fluctuates with the tide currents, as well as being affected by wind. However, they start floating as icebergs when their size is small enough to drift to the sea. These icebergs are seen in two shades: milky white and bright blue, which depends on the air trapped within the ice and is an interplay of light and ice crystals.
JÖkulsÁrlÓn has been a setting for four Hollywood movies: "A View to a Kill", "Die Another Day", "Tomb Raider" and "Batman Begins", as well as the "reality TV" series "Amazing Race". In 1991 Iceland issued a postage stamp, with a face value of 26 kronur, depicting JÖkulsÁrlÓn.
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. The base station for visits to the area is at Joklasel, which is approached from HÖfn.
Comments (1)