Reykjavík Grapevine - 15.07.2011, Page 43

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KEFLAVÍK
BORGARNES
STYKKISHÓLMUR
SNÆFELLSJÖKULL
DRANGAJÖKULL
FLATEY
NESKAUPSTA!UR
BLÖNDUÓS
SIGLUFJÖR!UR
BOLUNGARVÍK
HRÍSEY
NARSARSSUAQ
Greenland
FAROE ISLANDS
REYKJAVÍK
AKUREYRI
EGILSSTA!IR
ÍSAFJÖR!UR
VOPNAFJÖR!UR
"ÓRSHÖFN
HÚSAVÍK
GRÍMSEY
KULUSUK
Greenland
Blue Lagoon
AKRANES Geysir
Gullfoss
Jökullóni"
Kárahnjúkar
Kra!a
Hallormsta"ur
NUUK
Greenland
ILULISSAT
Greenland
CONSTABLE POINT
Greenland
“ I have visited this lagoon over a dozen times and every
time I still feel like a kid in a
candy store with my camera
43
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 10 — 2011
Words
Julia Staples
Photography
Julia Staples
Travel | Jökulsárlón
JÖKULSÁRLÓN IS STUNNING AND BEAUTIFUL
If you are looking to experience an
overwhelming landscape without
ever having to leave the comfort of
your car, Jökulsárlón is the place.
This 200 metre deep, eighteen square
kilometre glacial lagoon has been
dubbed ‘nature’s ever-changing
sculpture park.’ That is for good rea-
son, as the glacial runoff that creates
the lagoon carries with it small ice-
bergs and bits of glacier that dot the
lagoon with their fascinating natural
shapes. This natural wonder is only
sixty years old, and was created by a
receding glacier (and that may or may
not have something to do with global
warming, depending on your political
views).
I have visited this lagoon over a
dozen times and every time I still feel
like a kid in a candy store with my
camera. If impressing your friends at
home with your photographs tickles
your fancy, this is a place not to be
missed. And if spiritual rebirth and
awakening is your thing, I can’t imag-
ine a better place to make that hap-
pen.
Jökulsárlón may well provide the
most stunning landscape one can
observe from a car. It’s like a drive-in
movie theatre. No hiking necessary
(although I really would recommend
stepping out). However, if you have
the money for a guided boat tour, you
can get extra close to the glaciers and
even sample some of the thousand
year-old ice. If you have the energy,
stamina and skill for hiking, there are
numerous tours that provide guided
walks on the glacier that feeds the
lagoon.
Only a six-hour drive from Reykja-
vík, a trip to this lagoon can be done
in one day on any number of tours. I
would choose going here over going
to the ‘Golden Circle’ any day, and I
recommend you do the same if you
are willing to endure the driving (al-
though the current road closure by
the Múlakvísl bridge, due to the re-
cent glacial flooding makes the trip
a little more tricky—there are appar-
ently ferry services on offer between
07:00 and 23:00, do some research
before you get going). If you are extra
lucky the trip will come with a side of
seal sightings as they very much like
to sun themselves on top of the ice-
bergs.
Reykjavík Excursions’ ‘Reykjavík—Jökulsárlón, with boat tour’ tour runs June—September and costs 21.100 ISK
from Reykjavík. It can be booked at www.re.is or by calling 580 5400.