Icebergs on the beach

Iceland August -September 2012

(Sounds like a good name for a cocktail.)

Arches Effect - origin: Arches N.P.; def: 360° of amazing scenery; almost too much to take in

Grand Canyon Effect - origin: Grand Canyon; def: regardless of the photographer's skill or quality of equipment, the pictures don't do the actual scene justice

We are suffering from both.

Glaciers are absolutely overwhelming in their scale, beauty, and effect on the landscape. We have seen the results of the great North American glaciers in Glacier N.P., but to see them up close it something else completely.

Jökulsárlón ("glacial river lagoon") is something like we have never seen before. The retreat of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier in the 1st half of the 20th century, carved out a deep lagoon. However, the Jokulsa River runs through it pulling the sediment to the ocean. The result is a clear blue lagoon at the base of the glacier with icebergs that have calved from it.

Several movies have been filmed here

The mouth of the river, looking back into the lagoon

The icebergs float down the river to the ocean. When the tide comes in, some of the bergs get beached on a beautiful stretch of ebony sand.

Some are quite large, over 10 ft on their longest side

Another example of a glacial lagoon is at the base of the Hoffeilsjökull glacier. In this case, the toe of the glacier is much further from the ocean and there is not a river running nearby. This retreat created a basin with no current, leaving a lagoon of muddy water.

We were closer to this glacier and could clearly see the flowing dark lines, making it look truly like a river of ice.

Both of these glaciers emerge from the great Vatnajökull glacier, the largest in Europe.

From the base of a glacier.


In closing, for your viewing pleasure, a thematic clip:

If you have trouble, you can watch it here.