Glaciers in Iceland

Glaciers cover about a tenth of the Earth’s land mass, and nearly 11% of Iceland’s surface. Glaciers form when snow does not melt during the summers. Almost all glaciers in Iceland are of the temperate glacier type. Ice caps are large glacial ice sheets which cover terrain of varying elevation, for the most part covering it. Vatnajökull is such an ice cap. It is also the largest glacier in Europe. Breiðamerkurjökull is among the largest outlet glaciers proceeding from Vatnajökull. Langjökull is Iceland’s next-largest ice cap at 960 km2. Hofsjökull is the smallest of the three ice caps which distinguish Iceland’s central highlands. Twenty-two outlet glaciers proceed from Hofsjökull. Only two glaciers are to be found in the western part of the country: Drangajökull and Snæfellsjökull. Snæfellsjökull rises 1446 m above sea level and is especially beautiful. It stands on the very tip of the peninsula, where it can be easily seen from the capital city, Reykjavík.

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