Tucked away in the Vatnajökull National Park on the South East side of Iceland you will find the mesmerizing beauty of the Skaftafell Nature Reserve. Diverse landscapes and natural beauty make Skaftafell a haven for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors. Here are 5 great reasons to visit Skaftafell.
Get Up Close & Personal with a Glacier
The Vatnajökull glacier sits upon Iceland’s tallest mountain and covers approximately 8% of the country’s land mass. Hvannadalshnjukur peaks at 7,218 feel and conceals some of the country’s most active volcanoes. The glacier atop Hvannadalshnjukar has a surface area of approximately 3125 square miles and is as much as 3,000 feet thick in some areas.
The glacier is the central feature of Vatnajökull National Park. It boasts 30 outlet glaciers and the numerous rivers running out of the glacier form some of the greatest glacial rivers in Iceland.
It is worth a trip to the area to simply gaze upon the beauty of the glacier and its resultant rivers and lagoons. But those who have the time and want to more deeply experience the glacier may opt for a glacier trek. If you want to experience this, you should be in excellent physical condition as you will walk on ice, across deep crevasses, and around water cauldrons. You should hire a qualified guide before attempting a glacier trek.
Watch Ice Float at a Glacier Lagoon
The Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is one of Iceland’s top tourist attractions. This lagoon is truly a stunning sight with its giant icebergs slowly making their way to the ocean. If you are lucky, you might get to float along side them on a lagoon tour.
Jökulsárlón was formed around 1935, filling the space caused due to the shrinkage of Breiðamerkurjökull. The glacier lagoon continues to expand and covers over twice the surface area it did as recently as 1975. Scientists expect the lagoon will continue to grow until it becomes a large, deep fjord. Despite its relatively recent formation, it is currently Iceland’s largest lake and covers about 9 square miles of surface area with depths of over 800 feet.
Hunt for Treasure at Diamond Beach
Not all the icebergs floating in Jökulsárlón make it to the ocean. Many are broken by the waves and wash up on the black sands of Breiðamerkursandur. The large chunks of glistening ice sitting on the black volcanic sands look like enormous diamonds. For this reason, Breiðamerkursandur is also known as Diamond Beach.
Find the Black Waterfall
Svartifoss is one of the most popular places to visit in Skaftafell. This waterfall is surrounded by dark lava columns formed from volcanic activity in the area. For this reason, it is known as the Black Waterfall. Also of note are the sharp rocks at its base. One of the easiest hikes in the area is to see this amazing waterfall.
Take an Easy, or Not So Easy, Hike
Skaftafell is a hiking paradise! Hikers of all abilities can find a trail to suit them. Skaftafell has short, easy (at least relatively so) routes leading to Svartafoss and Skaftafellsjökli. But Skaftafell is also ideal for hiking enthusiasts looking for a challenge. In fact, it makes a perfect base camp for those wishing to tackle Iceland’s highest peak, Hvannadalshnjúk.
If you really want to test your mettle, you could try ice climbing or glacier hiking. But be sure to hire an experienced guide. You might also check out an ice cave while in the area. For safety reasons, ice cave tours are only available in the winter months. One of the most popular is the Vatnajökull ice cave.
What Do You Want to Do in the Beautiful Skaftafell Nature Reserve?
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