Jokulsarlon: The Lake of Glaciers
Jokulsarlon is a large glacial lagoon in southeast Iceland, on
the borders of Vatnajökull National Park, and one of the most famous
tourist attractions in Iceland. Appearing first only in 1934-1935, the
lake evolved after the glacier started receding from the edge of the
Atlantic Ocean. The lake has grown since then at varying rates
increasing fourfold since the 1970s. Today, it stands 1.5 kilometers
away from the ocean's edge and covers an area of about 18 km2. It
recently became the deepest lake in Iceland at over 248 meters depth as
glacial retreat extended its boundaries. When the first settlers
arrived in Iceland around 900 AD, the edge of the glacier tongue of
Breiðamerkurjökull glacier was about 20 kilometres further north of the
present location. During the Little Ice Age between 1600 and 1900 AD,
with cooler temperatures prevailing in these latitudes, the glacier had
grown up to about 1 kilometre from the coast at Jokulsa River, till
about 1890. With temperatures rising between 1920 and 1965, changes
started occurring in the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier tongue. It started
retreating inland rapidly with the continuing process of calving and
falling of icebergs of varying size, and thus creating a lagoon in its
wake. As the icebergs break away from the tongue of the glacier, they
drift slowly to the mouth of the lagoon and eventually join the ocean.
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The lagoon is the lowest point in Iceland with land at 200 metres below sea level. In summer, they melt and roll down the channel into the sea. In winter the lagoon freezes and locks the icebergs in place. The huge blocks of ice that calve from the edge of Vatnajökull are about 30 metres high and keep the lagoon stocked with icebergs. Some icebergs appear naturally sculpted on account volcanic ashes from ancient eruptions that partly cover them.
Jokuslarlon glacier lagoon is not far from the Icelandic Ring Road, and buses traveling between Hofn and Reykjavik usually stop near the lagoon where parking facilities have been provided for visitors.
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Source consulted: Amusing Planet
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The lagoon is the lowest point in Iceland with land at 200 metres below sea level. In summer, they melt and roll down the channel into the sea. In winter the lagoon freezes and locks the icebergs in place. The huge blocks of ice that calve from the edge of Vatnajökull are about 30 metres high and keep the lagoon stocked with icebergs. Some icebergs appear naturally sculpted on account volcanic ashes from ancient eruptions that partly cover them.
Jokuslarlon glacier lagoon is not far from the Icelandic Ring Road, and buses traveling between Hofn and Reykjavik usually stop near the lagoon where parking facilities have been provided for visitors.
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Source consulted: Amusing Planet