Glaciers & Ice Worlds
Europe's Largest Glacier
About 11% of Iceland's land area is covered by glaciers — a proportion that decreases every year. Iceland is the only European country with glaciers of this magnitude.
The Main Glaciers
| Glacier | Area | Special Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Vatnajökull | 7,900 km² | Largest glacier in Europe. As large as all the Alpine glaciers combined! Several active volcanoes beneath it (Grímsvötn, Bárðarbunga). Jökulsárlón lagoon at the edge |
| Langjökull | 950 km² | Second largest. Artificial ice tunnel to visit (Into the Glacier). Snowmobile tours on the surface |
| Hofsjökull | 890 km² | Third largest. Inaccessible highlands, with an active volcano beneath |
| Mýrdalsjökull | 590 km² | Covers the feared Katla volcano. Sólheimajökull is its most famous glacier tongue |
| Snæfellsjökull | 11 km² | Small but famous: Jules Verne's "Journey to the Center of the Earth". National park |
Sad Reality: Iceland's glaciers are rapidly shrinking. The Okjökull (Ok Glacier) was the first Icelandic glacier to be officially declared "dead" in 2019 — it no longer had enough mass to move as a glacier. A memorial plaque on the mountain bears the inscription "A Letter to the Future" and addresses future generations: "Ok is the first Icelandic glacier to lose its status as a glacier. In the next 200 years, all our glaciers are expected to suffer the same fate."
Scientists estimate that with continued warming, all Icelandic glaciers could disappear by 2200–2300. For a country named after ice, this is an existential dimension.
Northern Lights — When and Where?
The Aurora Borealis (northern lights) is for many THE reason to visit Iceland in winter. Here are the key facts:
- Season: September to March (the darker, the better). The best months: October, February, and March (statistically clearest skies)
- Conditions: Three things must come together: Darkness (no moon, no city lights), clear skies (no clouds), and solar activity (KP index from 2–3, ideally from 5)
- Forecast: The website vedur.is (under "Aurora forecast") and the app My Aurora Forecast show the KP index and cloud cover — the green areas on the map are cloud-free
- Best Places: Away from city lights: Þingvellir, the South Coast, Mývatn (North Iceland). Also possible directly from the hot pots of the Mývatn Nature Baths or the Blue Lagoon
- Colors: Most commonly green (oxygen at 100–300 km altitude), less often violet/red (nitrogen) and blue. Often more gray-greenish to the naked eye — the camera (long exposure!) shows the colors more intensely
- Tours: Northern lights tours from Reykjavík (3–5h, from 7,990 ISK/53€) drive to cloud-free areas. No guarantee, but high expertise of the guides
💡 Tipp
For northern lights, you primarily need PATIENCE. Check vedur.is in the evening: If the aurora forecast is green AND the cloud map shows cloud-free areas, head out of the city. The best northern lights often appear between 10 PM and 2 AM. Bring a tripod, warm clothing, and a thermos of cocoa. And don't forget: Even without northern lights, the Icelandic winter starry sky is breathtaking.
