Where are the glacier lagoons in Iceland?

Aurora borealis is one of the most incredible natural phenomena in the world. Many people visiting Iceland between early September and mid-April have high hopes to see the northern lights during their stay. For us the people living in the Northern Hemisphere, it is quite normal to see the sky covered with different colors of dancing northern lights but believe me – it always amazes us as much as when we saw them for the first time!

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.

If you spend even a short amount of time up on an Icelandic glacier or on the rough roads of the Highlands region, chances are you’ll see a super jeep. But what are these vehicles, why are they so prevalent in Iceland and how can you benefit from one if you’re planning a day tour on Vatnajökull glacier? Let’s find out.

If you’re planning to do a road trip in Iceland, it’s highly likely you’ll find yourself driving through the scenic south region. In that case, you’ll want to spend some time on Iceland’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull – or its outlet glaciers – and experience at least one glacier lagoon. Fjallsárlón is a great choice if so, a tranquil lagoon with a striking backdrop of glacial ice. Let’s take a look at what it’s like to go there at different times of the year and what you should expect.

The vast black sands and black beaches you find in the South of Iceland often leave many feeling as though they’ve stepped onto another planet. The most famous black sand beaches in Iceland are the Diamond beach and the Black Beach (Reynisfjara). Another frequently visited tourist attraction is the airplane wreck on Solheimasandur, black sand beach.

Vatnajökull covers a sizeable proportion of Iceland’s land area. This enormous ice field takes up about 8% of the country, the largest glacier in Iceland by a considerable margin. In total, Icelandic glaciers contain 3500 km3 of ice, and the Vatnajökull glacier is responsible for 3000 km3 of that. Its vast scale is plain to see.

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.

Iceland is often referred to as the land of fire and ice! You shouldn’t be surprised to learn that it’s home to a number of glaciers, the largest being Vatnajökull. Let’s find out a little more about them and how you can combine a glacier excursion with a visit to Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon.

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.

Fjallsárlón or Fjallsarlon is a natural glacial lagoon located in Southeast Iceland within Vatnajökull National Park. The lagoon started to form about 70 years ago when Fjallsjökull glacier started to retreat. In earlier times, as the glacier expanded the glacier carved into the landscape pushing hills and land aside making a gap of 100 meters below sea level. Naturally when the glacier started to melt away Fjallsarlon, a magnificent glacier lagoon slowly materialized right in front of the glacier tongue. Fjallsarlon is now the 4th deepest lagoon or lake in Iceland.

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.

Vatnajökull is Europe’s largest glacier, making it a dream destination for photographers eager to capture the raw, ethereal beauty of Iceland’s glaciers. Known for its vast expanse of glistening ice and sweeping landscapes, Vatnajökull is a world-class location for capturing one-of-a-kind photos.

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.

The company Fjallsarlon Iceberg Boat Tours was founded in 2013, offering iceberg lagoon boat tours from the back of a trailer. Since then, a lot has changed. In 2017 we opened a new tour reception for boat tours, and at Frost restaurant, we were able to welcome hungry travelers. We can proudly say that our service center next to a glacier lagoon is the best facility any activity company in the area offers. We believe that the overall experience when going on any tour should be good from the moment you park your car and until you leave again.

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.