The most amazing glacial caves Skaftafell, Ice Cave, Blue Ice Cave and others are located in the southeastern part of the huge glacier Vatnajokull. The Vatnajokull glacier is the largest glacier in Europe and the third in the world after the glaciers of Antarctica and Greenland. The area of the glacier is 8,133 km2, which is 8% of the entire territory of the island. The thickness of the ice ranges from 400 meters to one kilometer.
The glacier is in constant motion, which causes the ice layer to crack. Through the cracks formed, meltwater enters the very depths of the glacier. Rivers form under the base of the glacier, making their way to the surface, they change and form a cave maze. The ice caves have large halls, galleries, wells and beautiful transparent columns. Often the floor of caves is covered with a layer of ice. The length of such caves can be several hundred meters, and the depth can be up to 100 m or more.
Caves in the glacier are formed every year during periods of melting and freezing of glaciers. Therefore, each cave in each particular year is absolutely unique — like a fingerprint.
In places accessible to the public, the depth of the underground passage does not exceed 50 meters. Sunlight penetrates through the layer of ice and illuminates the vaults of the cave, creating the illusion of presence in the depths of the sea. The ice layer that formed several thousand years ago due to high pressure is completely devoid of air bubbles, and is almost transparent.
In summer, rains wash away snow from the surface of the glacier and sunlight breaking through a large thickness of ice illuminates the "underground" labyrinth in an unusual blue color. But due to the warm weather, the ice becomes brittle and cave-ins often occur. Therefore, they are closed to the public in summer.
The glacial caves can be accessed between November and March. Even in the cold season, the crackling of ice can be heard inside the caves, as the glacier breaks sliding down the mountain slopes.
Every year in Iceland there are several glacial caves open to the public with a guided tour. Most of the excursions depart from the villages of Vík (Vik), Höfn (Hebn) or from the glacial lagoon Jokulsarlon (Jökulsárlón).
The most popular glacier caves for tourists are located on the glacier Vatnayekull. But not only there.
Vatnajokull Glacier is the largest glacier in Europe
Vatnajökull is the largest ice cap in Iceland, covering 8% of the island's territory. The Vatnajokull Glacier is located in the south-west of Iceland and is a popular ...
Mýrdalsjökull is a glacier in the south of Iceland. It is the fourth largest ice cap in the country, covering almost 600 square kilometers, and its highest peak is almost 1,500 meters. The glacier is known for covering the Katla volcano. Mýrdalsjökull is visible from Route 1 on the south coast, from the village of Vik. Ice caves can also form under this glacier, which can be accessed with an excursion.
A list of Ice caves and tours that are available this year can be found here.
Unfortunately, you will not be able to visit the ice caves on your own. You need to use the services of travel agencies, for example guidetoiceland
The price of such an excursion starts from 130 euros per person. The duration is about 3 hours + the road.
In addition to glacial caves of natural origin, Iceland also has an artificial ice cave. An ice tunnel has been drilled in the Langjökull glacier - the largest in the world. It can also be visited. Unlike natural ice caves, it is relatively close to Reykjavik and you can go on an excursion in one day. Read more on the website - https://intotheglacier.is /
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