February, 2025
At the end of each of our first two days in Iceland and with five more days ahead of us, comments were made about whether or not it could get any better. Simply, yes. Our adventure today started out overcast, the sun peeking out on occasion, and then was followed by a misty rain for most of the day. But to catch sight of the majesty of a glacier, the delicate beauty of ice sculptures washed ashore, and icebergs, the free-floating fragments of ice broken off of a glacier or ice shelf is worth enduring the elements.
The hotels chosen for us by the tour company, particularly those outside of the Reykjavik metro area were one story, with several barracks of interconnected rooms that were well appointed, comfortable, and geothermally heated. Each hotel on our tour offered a three-course dinner and full hot breakfast.
The vista we could see out our back door after settling in at last night’s lodging was captivating, particularly as the sun was setting. Sunrise revealed an even more beautiful vista gazing out in the same direction.
The landscape along the way to our first stop at Skaftafell added to the enjoyment of our travel.
The Skeidara Bridge Monument is just a mile or two from our morning hike in the Skaftafell region of the vast Vatnajokull National Park to experience the grandeur of the Skeidararjokull Glacier. Once the longest span in Iceland, the Skeidara Bridge carried drivers across a wide plain of black volcanic sand marbled with creeks of run-off from the glacier. In 1996, the volcano Vatnajökull, which sat beneath the glacier erupted, melting portions of glacier and creating massive floods. While the girder bridge was built to withstand a hefty amount of flood waters, there was no preparing for the house-sized icebergs that the floods washed down the plain. A number of these glacial shards crashed into the bridge, wiping it out and creating a gap in the ring road. All that remains of the original bridge today are two twisted girders by the side of the new road.
Our mile long hike through Vatnajökull National Park was an exhilarating journey. As we climbed to a hilltop, we were surrounded by glaciers, lava fields, and clear streams. The scenery was breathtaking.
At the summit, the view of Skeidarajokull Glacier was stunning. The landscape’s beauty and scale made us feel small and humbled.
The blue of the Skeidararjokull Glacier is observable along both sides of this mountain terrain. The Skeidararjokull glacier is a part of the Vatnajokull Glacial Mass. The Vanajokull Glacial Mass is Europe’s largest by volume, encompassing almost 5,100 square miles or 15% of Iceland’s total landmass.
Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is at the very southern edge of the Vatnajokull glacier. Large chunks of ice or icebergs regularly calve from the glacier and eventually make their way to the sea by way of the glacier lagoon. Dense ice, such as that found in a glacier absorb and reflect light differently than is observed with ice from other sources. This results in a blue, almost turquoise, color. Add a low hanging cloud cover with a misty rain we experienced this day and the entire panorama takes on that blue hue.
As the icebergs from glacier lagoon tumble, flip and roll along with the currents on their way to the sea interesting ice sculptures wash ashore on the adjacent black sand beach. On a clear sunny day the light plays amongst the icy sculptures with a brilliant effect – shining like a diamond. Welcome to Diamond Beach.
For us and our new friends, Iceland has become a living testament to the artistry of Mother Nature – a breathtaking illustration of the raw, unspoiled power of nature that creates landscapes unlike any other on Earth.
Barbara and Brian
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.“ – Henry David Thoreau
Aimless Wanderings 