(It is actually around 1/10th of the landmass that is covered in ice - 80% of which is covered by Vatnajokull.)
For more geological information on Iceland, check out the Geology category. For more information on specific glaciers and their locations keep on reading.
The main glaciers of Iceland are:
Vatnajokull
Located about 400km from Reykjavik, in the South-SE of Iceland, at 8100 km2
(reaching a height of 2119m) Vatnajokull is the biggest glacier, not only
in Iceland but in all of Europe. It is also one of the glaciers that is on
top of an active volcano (actually on top of many different volcanoes).
Around it are Skaftafell National Park and Jokulsarlon (the glacial lagoon)
amongst other things. Also on the edge of Vatnajokull are Kverkfjoll which
have some exquisite ice caves formed by naturally running geothermal water.
Skaftareldar
The last eruptions in Vatnajokull took place 1996 and 1998, but the most damaging
and perhaps famous eruption started in the summer of 1783.
Skaftareldar (the fires of the river Skafta) are one of the worst things to
ever happen in the history of Iceland. See more on them here
in the Volcanoes category.
For more information and pictures on the Vatnajokull eruption in 1996 see
http://www.hi.is/~mmh/gos/photos3.html
and
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/Hazards/What/Lava/Vatnajokull19961003_caption.html
or for the 1998 eruption see
http://www.hi.is/~mmh/gos/
For information on Vatnajokull adventures, see the Recreation or Sports categories (link?) in "other" or check out
http://www.vatnajokull.com/index.html
Hofsjokull
Size: ca.920 km2 and 1782m in height.
Covering a sub glacial volcano in Iceland's Highlands in the centre of the
country and believed by some to be one of earth's main energy vortexes, Hofsjokull
lies right in the middle of two of Iceland's main highland desert paths.
These are Kjolur and Sprengisandur.
Kjolur lies from Hofsjokull to Langjokull and Sprengisandur lies between Hofsjokull
and Vatnajokull. On Kjolur you will also find a skiing area known as Kerlingafjoll
and one of Iceland's famous geothermal areas, Hveravellir.
Both paths offer a very good experience of Iceland's highland desert dunes and the various natural phenomena, but both are also very risky and should only be travelled in good 4x4 vehicles, preferably with a guide or as part of a group.
Myrdalsjokull
Size: ca.700 km2 and 1480m in height
In the South, South-West of Iceland, about half-way towards Vatnajokull (ca.
200km from Reykjavik) you will find Myrdalsjokull, the 4th largest glacier
in Iceland.
A lot of its' sub glacial space is occupied by the volcano Katla, mostly covered
by the ice.
Langjokull
Size: ca.950 km2 with a height of 1355m
Langjokull, like most Icelandic glaciers, tries to hide a volcano under it.
It is the countries' second largest glacier, only surpassed in size by the
much larger Vatnajokull.
It is surrounded by 3 much smaller glaciers: Eiriksjokull, Thorisjokull and Hrutfell.
Langjokull is a great supplier of water for that part of the country. It supplies water for various lakes, the great river Hvita and the geothermal area in Haukadalur (e.g. Geysir) amongst other things. It is also a place very popular with snowmobile travellers, who like travelling across the glacier, and off-roaders who approach the glacier crossing Kjolur.
Langjokull is on the Western edge of Iceland's Highlands, only 2 degrees South of the Arctic Circle, and is separated from Hofsjokull by the Kjolur desert path.
Öræfajökull
A glacier which is an independent part of the great Vatnajokull, with an active
sub glacial volcano. This is also Iceland's largest single volcano.
Öræfajökull is the part that contains the highest point of
Vatnajokull, Hvannadalshnjukur (2119m).
Snaefellsjokull
"Ah - what a journey - what a marvelous and extraordinary journey!
Here we had entered the earth by one volcano, and we had come out by another.
And this other was situated more than twelve hundred leagues from Sneffels,
from that drear country of Iceland cast away on the confines of the earth...
We had abandoned the region of eternal snows for that infinite verdure, and
had left over our heads the gray fog of the icy regions to come back to the
azure sky of Sicily!"
(from "A Journey to the Center of the Earth", 1864)
Snaefellsjokull is a National Park in the Southwest of Iceland, located on a peninsula that used to be the most densely populated area in Iceland, being a very busy fishing place at the time. The clearness of the Icelandic air is such that, despite a distance of around 150km, the glacier can often be seen from Reykjavik in good weather.
Fires of the glacier
Snæfellsjökull is a glacier on top of an active volcano. Not much
is left of the glacier part, only about 7-9 km2 in size and 1446m in height,
but it's still a very impressive sight.
The mythical glacier
The National Park is about 170sq.km. in size and has been the location of
numerous Icelandic Sagas and many, many myths through the ages. These include:
elves, monsters, magic, curses, ghost sightings and the story of Bardur Snaefellsaus,
a half-troll, half-man that is said to have vanished into the glacier.
[Trolls appear in almost every old Icelandic tale and most strange looking rocks are "trolls who fell pray to the sun".]
Also, more recently it has been linked with extra terrestrial beings, which are believed to have landed there as recently as 1994.
The inspiring glacier
Amongst the writings inspired by Snaefellsnes and its glacier are works by
Iceland's Nobel Prize winning author, Halldor Laxness (Heimsljós, Kristnihald
undir jokli og mynd, link) as well as Jules Verne's Journey to the centre
of the earth (link kaupa +
http://www.journeymart.com/Offtrack/literary.asp#Iceland
+ http://www.online-literature.com/verne/journey_center_earth/9/).
It is in fact that novel which is quoted above. There the entrance to the centre of the earth is through a cave at Snaefellsjokull and many travellers still today come looking for that entry. In fact there is a plethora of theories of a similar nature, believing that many tribes have fled to the centre of the earth through these kind of entries and live there happily (hollow world theories).
But the tunnel to Italy is still to be found.
"Even if" none of the stories are true, there has to be something
mystical about a place, which inspires this many stories.
:)
Drangjokull
Size: ca. 200 km2
Situated in the West Fjords, which are located in the Northwest corner of
Iceland.
The West Fjords are the oldest part of Iceland and have some extremely beautiful
and often mystical scenery. This was also the location of many of the Icelandic
Sagas and Viking myths.
Eyjafjallajökull
Size: ca. 100 km2 Height: 1666m
Resting close to Myrdalsjokull, in the S-East of Iceland, is yet another active
volcano with a glacier cap (actually, one of the largest volcanoes in Iceland).
An amazingly strong contrast found all over Iceland that is even more special
when encountered in the same mountain.
This is by many believed to be one of the most impressive sights in S-Iceland.
More info:
http://www.jorfi.is/english.htm
(the Iceland Glaciological Society)
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