Iceland review - 2014, Síða 86

84 ICELAND REVIEW
The Blue & White Lagoon
Next Door to Nature
Visit southeast Iceland and you won’t fail to notice the splendor
of Vatnajökull—the world’s biggest glacier outside the polar
zones. It is the glistening white crown of the Vatnajökull National
Park; the biggest national park in Western Europe.
The glacier is certainly a majestic sight, but isn’t it just a frozen
waste? Well, no, not at all. The realm of Vatnajökull offers the visi-
tor a myriad of things to see and do. Start with a boat ride among
the seals and icebergs in the Jökulsárlón lagoon, and end with a
hike through the lush greenery of Skaftafell, for example.
The charming fishing town of Höfn is the gateway to Vatnajökull
National Park and a great base when visiting the region. Höfn is
famous for its langoustines and is the regional hub for all sorts of
services.
Höfn boasts a full selection of accommodation and eating/
drinking dining options, as well as a large swimming complex and
Hornafjörður Art Museum, which specializes in works by the local
abstract painter Svavar Guðnason (1909-1988) who sought inspi-
ration in the magnificent nature and colors surrounding Höfn.
Höfn is also a good place for booking trips and excursions in
the realm of Vatnajökull. If you want to climb on the glacier, go
snowmobiling, go in a super jeep, or go kayaking, just ask at the
Visitor Center in Höfn!
Vatnajökull National Park offers daily guided walks in several
different locations such as Skaftafell and the Heinabergsjökull
outlet glacier. The national park runs visitor centers and a book-
ing service in Höfn and Skaftafell.
The Vatnajökull region is covered in depth on the classy
visitvatnajokull.is website—a great location to plan your trip to
this must see area in Iceland! hornafjordur.is
Legendary for its langoustines,
South-Iceland’s fishing town Höfn is your gateway to
the magnificent Vatnajökull National Park.
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