Jokulsarlon

Jokulsarlon
	Jökulsárlón with drift ice
Geographical location	Iceland
Drain	Jökulsá á Breiðamerkursandi
	Data
Coordinates	64 ° 4 '8 " N , 16 ° 13' 21" W Coordinates: 64 ° 4 '8 " N , 16 ° 13' 21" W
surface	18 km²
Maximum depth	284 m
particularities	Deepest lake in Iceland

Iceberg formation on the Jökulsárlón glacial lake

The lake Jökulsárlón ([ jœːkʏlsaurˌlouːn ], Icelandic Jökull , glaciers' , á , river ' , lón , Lagoon' , pronounced "Glacier Lagoon") is the most famous and largest of a number of glacial lakes in Iceland . It is located on the southern edge of Vatnajökull on Breiðamerkursandur between Skaftafell National Park and Höfn . At 284 meters, it is the deepest lake in Iceland . Its area is about 18 km². It is located in the municipality of Hornafjörður .

description

Multi-colored ice on Jökulsárlón

Ice on the coast in front of Jökulsárlón ( Diamond Beach )

Jökulsárlón is known for the icebergs floating on it , which can reach heights of up to 15 meters. They separated from the glacier tongue of Breiðamerkurjökull .

Color differences can often be observed in the icebergs. The blue comes from various crystals in the ice and their reflection , the black from volcanic ash .

There are numerous hiking trails on the shores of the lake. In the months of June and July, the great skua nest near the glacial lake. There are also seals in Jökulsárlón .

There are two more glacial lakes nearby, the much smaller and more remote Fjallsárlón , with smaller icebergs, and the Breiðárlón .

geography

Bridge over the river Jökulsá á Breiðamerkursandi

The short river from this lake is called Jökulsá á Breiðamerkursandi , just like many other rivers in Iceland are called Jökulsá ("glacial river"). It is spanned by a bridge on the ring road ( Hringvegur ), some of which runs right next to the lake. Because of the surf and the associated erosion of the coast, the bridge and the banks of the Jökulsá are heavily fortified.

Depending on the tides, the current of the Jökulsá varies in strength. It can also reverse itself, causing salt water from the ocean to flow into the lake, preventing it from freezing over. When the current is directed towards the sea, icebergs are washed out of the lake into the sea and partly deposited on the adjacent black basalt beach, which is why it is sometimes called diamond beach .

history

In 1975 the lake was about 7.9 km² in size, but grew to 18 km² due to the melting of the glacier. The lake and the surrounding land belonged to the Fell farm and were therefore private property. This was for sale and in January 2017 the Icelandic state made use of its right of first refusal and bought the natural monument.

On June 25, 2017, Environment Minister Björt Ólafsdóttir signed the document and placed this area under protection. This will enlarge the Vatnajökull National Park by 189 km². The area also includes part of the Breiðamerkursandur and Fjallsárlón.

Trivia

The glacial lake has already served as the setting for well-known film productions such as James Bond - Die Another Day , James Bond 007 - In the Face of Death , Tomb Raider , Beowulf & Grendel and Batman Begins . In order for vehicles to drive on the lake, access to the sea was closed for the James Bond film Die Another Day .