Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Named The Crown Jewel of Iceland, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is one of the most visited places in the country and one of the most famous. As its name says, it is a lagoon formed by the melting water from one outlet glacier of the biggest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull.
Located in the South-East part of Iceland, Glacier Lagoon is the stopping point for all travellers who are visiting the South coast or are driving the Ring Road.
The outlet glacier that feeds the lagoon is named Breiðamerkurjökull and the lagoon formed quite recently, around 1935 when the climate started to warm and the glacier melted under the high temperatures.
Scientists say that Breiðamerkurjökull started to melt around 1920 and is continuing to melt nowadays. They believe that the glacier will melt until the lagoon will become a large fjord.
What makes the lagoon special is the big icebergs that were detached from the glacier tongue and drifted to the ocean. Because of the ocean currents, the waves are taking the ice pieces back to the shore.
The Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is also the deepest lake in Iceland with 248 meters (814 feet) depth. Its surface is continuously growing and its current surface is about 18 square kilometers (7 square miles).
The fame of the lagoon has crossed the borders to Hollywood and film producers considered the lagoon at Jökulsárlón the perfect place for filming some scenes.
The most famous movies that have scenes filmed there are James Bond A View to Kill (1985), James Bond Die Another Day (2002), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), and Batman Begins (2005). You can find more about the movies that have scenes filmed in Iceland in our blog about the most famous movie locations in Iceland.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is also home to some bird species as Arctic Terns and Skuas that come for breeding during summer. Also, the amount of herring and capelin that are brought to the lagoon by the tides attracts many birds that lying on the icebergs ready to get their food.
Also mostly during the summer, you will find at the Glacier Lagoon many seals swimming in the glacial water of the lagoon or lying on the icebergs.
The Glacier Lagoon is not only a place to stop and admire the beauty of Icelandic nature but also a place where you can do some interesting activities like exploring the Blue Ice Cave during winter or boat tours on the lagoon during summer.
You will find all the details for those activities on our blog dedicated to the activities at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is one of the most changeable places in Iceland, every time you go there you will have a different view over the lagoon. The lagoon is part of the Vatnajökull National Park and because it is a fragile place it is also protected by Icelandic law.
Please respect nature and protect it. Despite the amazing place that Glacier Lagoon became, we have to be aware of the climate changes as the lagoon is a consequence of it and the melting glaciers and one of the most visible proofs we can have.
There are many Self-driving tours and Private tours that include a stop at the Glacier Lagoon and we highly recommend including this amazing place in your itinerary. You can also design your itinerary together with our travel designer.
