Fjallsjökull is the largest glacier that descends from the volcano Öræfajökull and is considered a ‘glacial tongue’ or outlet glacier off of Vatnajökull. Once connected to the glaciers Hrútárjökull and Breiðamerkurjökull, Fjallsjökull has significantly shrunk in mass over the years, eventually forming the glacial lagoon Fjallsárlón.
Glacial Lagoons form from the ice melting and from calving events, the most famous image of a melting glacier. As the snout of the glacier now ends in a lake, this creates what scientists call a ‘positive feedback loop’ that results in warmer temperatures, further melting the glacier.
On the shore at Fjallsárlón, there is a path you can take to walk around the beach to witness this beautiful landmark. You may see icebergs up close and flipping as their weight shifts.
To get closer to the glacier, we recommend booking a zodiac tour where the guides will teach you more about the area, and how the glacier has formed over the years.
