Iceland review - 2016, Page 28

26 ICELAND REVIEW
Covering eight percent of
Iceland, Vatnajökull is the
world’s largest glacier outside
the polar regions. The ice cap
measures up to 1,000 m (3,300
feet) in thickness. Numerous
volcanoes are hidden beneath
the ice cap. The country’s most
active volcano, Grímsvötn, is
located right in the middle, while
Bárðarbunga (which erupted in
2014-15), in the northwest cor-
ner, is Iceland’s most power-
ful. In the south is Öræfajökull,
with Iceland’s highest peak,
Hvannadalshnjúkur, rising 2,110
m (6,923 feet) towards the sky.
More than 30 outlet glaciers
flow from the ice cap, each very
different in shape and size.
Since 2008 the glacier has
been part of Vatnajökull National
Park, which contains some of
the country’s most-visited sites,
including Jökulsárlón glacier
lagoon and the Skaftafell area. u
COLD
CASE
L A N D S C A P E
BY PÁLL STEFÁNSSON.