Vatnajökull’s immense size means it has many outlet glaciers radiating out from its edge like fingers. One of these is Fjallsjökull glacier, which is above us here at Fjallsárlón, while another is Svínafellsjökull glacier located close by. We’d suggest you make time for both as you travel along Iceland’s scenic south coast, so here’s what to see and do at Svínafellsjökull.

When thinking of housing in Iceland, one might think that in the past Icelanders used to live in igloos made from snow. The fact is that this is not the case, Icelanders never lived in snow igloos. In the much colder neighboring country Greenland housing was however mostly made of snow. The names “Greenland” and “Iceland” might seem contradictory given the contrasting climates of the two countries. Greenland has always been much icier and colder than Iceland. The reason for the conflicting names dates to when the Norse explorer Eric the Red discovered both countries. He wanted to attract settlers to the icy country, naming it Greenland and deter settlers from coming to Iceland with its milder climate and fertile lands.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland are the famous glacier lagoons, Fjallsarlon and Jokulsarlon. The lagoons are located only 10-minutes’ drive apart and are in rural area in the southeast of Iceland. Being in the middle of nowhere there are not many restaurants in the area.

The Icelandic horse is the original breed that the first inhabitants, vikings of Iceland brought with them in the early settlement of Iceland in 874. Many believe that the settlers picked out the very best livestock possible to transfer oversea when they relocated to a land with such harsh weather conditions. It is also believed that once livestock had been established in Iceland that the settlers that followed soon ceased bringing livestock with them and simply purchased what they needed from previous settlers.

In recent years, Iceland has become a popular destination for travelers all year round. This is a big change from the time Iceland was mostly visited in July and August. The Southeast of Iceland boasts of natural attractions such as Fjadrargljufur Canyon, Skaftafell National Park, Diamond beach, Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Mulagljufur canyon.

Iceland’s home to more than 250 named glaciers, including Vatnajökull, its largest glacier which covers around 10% of the country. They encompass a plethora of types, such as ice caps, outlet glaciers and ice accumulation on mountains.

If you’ve set your sights on visiting Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon, there’s a good chance you are planning to travel from Reykjavik by car. It’s around a five hour drive, so where should you stop along the way? Here are a few of our favourite places to break the journey.

When you think of Iceland, one of the most striking images that likely comes to mind are its stunning glaciers. Among them, Vatnajökull reigns supreme as Iceland’s largest, with numerous glacier outlets crawling from its core.

Glaciers are not the most inviting home or habitat for animals, therefore Iceland in general does not boost of the most flourishing wildlife in the world. Over the centuries wildlife and animals have adapted and evolved to survive in these harsh conditions.

Fjallsárlón and the surrounding glaciers. Visiting a glacier is a real highlight of any trip to Iceland, and if you’re planning to travel along the country’s scenic southern coast, you won’t regret calling in at Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon and the surrounding glaciers. With a backdrop of ice, it’s a breathtaking sight, but these majestic landforms can be hazardous, so it’s never a good idea to climb up on a glacier on your own. You can join the Ultimate Glacier Adventure a perfect combo of boat tour and glacier hike.

Glaciers in Iceland have been retreating in Iceland for the last decades. This is a result of global warming which has had a huge effect on the glacier rivers that flow from the glaciers. As the glaciers are getting smaller there is less ice to melt causing glacier rivers to decrease in volume as time goes by.

Fjallsárlón is an exquisite lagoon whose backdrop is Fjallsjökull, one of the outlet glaciers of magnificent Vatnajökull (see photo above). Here, the glacier drops down steeply towards the water, adding drama and accentuating the contrast between the lake and its background. Trust us, this is a landscape worthy of the overused epithet awesome.

Driving to Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon is easy and the parking lot is accessible by any type of car. Just 600 meters from the ring road no. 1, you find the parking lot next to Fjallsarlon Iceberg boat tours, service center and restaurant. More information here FJALLSARLON PARKING AND LOCATION. At Fjallsarlon parking is free of charge. Few years ago, parking around Iceland was free at most nature reserves and tourist attractions. That has changed in recent years and now parking fees are collected at top sights such as Jokulsarlon Glacier lagoon, our neighboring ice lagoon.

Vatnajökull National Park – Unesco Heritage Site:
This week we would like to share with you some information about Vatnajokull National Park, why you should explore the area and the main highlights. This beautiful area possesses endless natural wonders of different landscapes. 

Ice caves in Iceland and beyond are one of the most incredible sights nature can offer us. They are scattered across the planet but Iceland, thanks to its abundance of glaciers, is blessed with many of them.