In East Iceland you will find many things that make Iceland one of the most unique places in the world. Eastern Iceland stretches from Skeiðarársandur in the south to the Langanes Peninsula in the north. The landscapes of eastern Iceland are exceptional in many ways - a significant part of the territory is covered by a glacier. This is Iceland's largest glacier, Vatnajokull, and the coastline is all cut up by deep fjords with steep cliffs and mountain peaks.
Content:
- Fjords of Eastern Iceland
- Vatnajokull Glacier
- Svartifoss is a waterfall surrounded by basalt columns
- Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
- Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss waterfalls
- Tracking in Eastern Iceland
- Five reasons to visit Eastern Iceland
Fjords of Eastern Iceland
Deep fjords along the coast are a characteristic feature of Eastern Iceland. Most settlements in the area are located on the shores of such fjords. The shores of the fjords turned out to be a convenient place for harbors, where numerous fishing vessels are located.
The large number of fish in these places has also attracted many foreign tourists who want to fish in these northern waters. Especially a lot of tourists-fishermen came and are coming from France. There is a historical friendship between French fishermen and Icelanders living in the eastern Fjords region and there is even a French museum in the town of Búðir in Fáskrúðsfjörður.
Relatively recently near Karanjukara was built the largest hydroelectric power station in Iceland.
Perhaps the most interesting city in the Eastern Fjords is the town of Sturvarfjordur. The city's attractions include a museum with a large collection of minerals and a church that serves as a guest house.
The Skálanes Tourist Center is located at the mouth of the Seyðisfjörður fjord. There you can observe the life of bird colonies that nest on the rocks up close. There is almost no fear of birds and you can get quite close to them!
An hour's drive from Egilsstaðir is the small seaside village of Borgarfjörður Eystri. A good place for hiking in the fjord area.
Vatnajokull Glacier
The Vatnajokull Glacier is the largest glacier in Iceland, as well as the largest in Europe. It covers an area of approximately 8,100 square kilometers. Glacier ice thickness of Vatnajokull - up to 1000 meters. However, the average thickness is 400-500 meters, which is also a lot. This is approximately the height of a 150-storey building. The total volume of the Vatnajokull ice is probably about 3,300 cubic kilometers.
In 2008, the Vatnajokull Glacier and its magnificent landscapes were declared a national park. Two existing national parks, Skaftafell in the south and Jokulsarglufur in the north, as well as several nature reserves, were combined into the newly formed Vatnaiekull National Park, thus creating the largest national park in Europe. Vatnajokull National Park occupies 13% of Iceland's territory. The park demonstrates an amazing variety of landscape features formed by the powerful forces of nature.
The Vatnajokull Glacier is named after the lakes located under the glacier in a very volcanically active area in its center.
The ice cap covers an undulating mountain plateau. The height of the peaks reaches 600-800 meters above sea level. The plateau is cut by numerous valleys filled with ice and canyons with steep walls.
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 ...
The most spectacular views open from the south side, where the glacier tongues descend from the mountains. One of the tongues of the glacier is located next to the highest mountain in Iceland - the height of the peak is 2110 meters above sea level. This peak has a separate name - Khvannadalshnukur. By the way, this is a volcano that last erupted in 1728.
One of Iceland's most famous volcanoes, Eyjafjallajökull, is also located here. It was he who paralyzed air traffic throughout Europe during the eruption in 2010.
If you like outdoor activities and hiking in the mountains, you can climb one of the peaks or just go trekking on the glacier with a guide.
Svartifoss is a waterfall surrounded by basalt columns
The magnificent Svartifoss waterfall is also located in Skaftafell Park, falling from a wall consisting of black basalt columns. This form of basalt is called hexagonal columns, they have 6 faces.
Svartifoss Waterfall is a popular tourist attraction that is worth a visit. especially if you are traveling around Iceland by car along the ring road No. 1.
There is a large (free) parking lot at the Skaftafell Information Center. There are several maps and information boards on which you will find all the necessary information about hiking trails, to the glacier and to the Svartifoss waterfall.
Read more about the waterfall here:
Svartifoss Waterfall, Svartifoss
The famous tourist attraction Svartifoss Waterfall, Svartifoss (Black Falls) is located in the Skaftafell National Park. The name of the waterfall Svartifoss translate...
The hiking trails in the park are well marked. A walk to the Svartifoss Waterfall from the parking lot and the information center takes about 1-1.5 hours round trip. The trail is easy, but it constantly goes a little uphill. You won't even need a card.
Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
To the south of the Vatnajokull glacier, there is the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. It is sandwiched between the sea and the edge of the glacier.
Perhaps this place is one of the most famous sights of Iceland.
A few years ago, a James Bond film was shot in the ice lagoon - "Die, but not Now."
Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is one of Iceland's most amazing natural wonders and one of the most popular tourist attractions.
Jökulsárlón: Unforgettable Experience at Iceland's Glacial Lagoon
Jökulsárlón is a glacier lagoon located in southeastern Iceland, known for its stunning beauty and unique natural features. The lagoon is situated at the edge of Vatna...
The lagoon began to form in 1934, when the glacier began to melt and retreat from the sea. In 1956, the size of the lagoon was 4.5 square kilometers, and in 1975 the lagoon reached 8 square kilometers. Today, the size of the lagoon is estimated to be about 25 square kilometers, and it is constantly increasing, as about 500 square meters of ice slide into the lagoon from the glacier every year.
Jokulsarlon is also considered the deepest lake in Iceland. The maximum depth is about 260 meters - in the place where the glacier slides into the water.
Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss waterfalls
Hengifoss is one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland, with a height of 128 meters.
The waterfall falls from the upper plateau into a huge gorge. The waterfall falls down surrounded by a semicircle of rocks, which perfectly show the various layers of volcanic eruptions in the tertiary period, when Iceland was formed.
From the parking lot to the waterfall, you need to walk along the trail for about 40-60 minutes. Along the way there is another amazing waterfall called Litlanesfoss. It is surrounded by exceptional tall basalt columns, which makes it completely unique and photogenic.
The river flows into Lake Lagarfjot, home to the world-famous monster snake Lagarfljotsormur. More information about this legend will be written below.
You will find excellent hotels, restaurants and entertainment in the surrounding area.
Tracking in Eastern Iceland
If you move further north, you will find yourself in a place where volcanoes are practically located under the ice cap of the Vatnajokull glacier, and the forces of fire and ice are constantly fighting.
Some of the most famous and spectacular volcanoes are: Kverkfjöll, Bárðarbunga and Grímsvötn - Iceland's most active volcano, which erupts every 5-10 years.
Glacier hiking, jeep tours and snowmobile tours in the region have become popular recently. The mountains north of the glacier are also popular with tourists, and mountain huts can be found in many places. This area north of the Vatnajokull glacier, in the desert expanses of Snefell, is the main habitat for deer in Iceland.
The largest city in Eastern Iceland, Egilsstaðir, is located by a lake in the icy Lagarfjot River. A popular legend claims that a giant sea serpent lives deep in this lake. and periodically it can be seen above the surface of the water.
Along the shores of the lake lies a beautiful forest, Hallormsstaðaskógur. Also, the most beautiful landscapes can be observed on the way from Egilstadir to Seidifjordur, from where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Fjardara River, which cascades down from the edge of a lifeless plateau, forming countless beautiful waterfalls.
What to do when visiting East Iceland
- Spend the day in the Skaftafell National Park and enjoy the Arctic nature.
- Take a boat ride among the icebergs on the glacier lagoon of Jökulsárlón.
- Visit the towns located along the shores of the fjords and look at the life of small fishing towns.
- Go hiking in the highlands of Eastern Iceland to see the stunning scenery.
- Visit the forest at Hallormsstaða skógur (15 km from Egilsstaðir).
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