In the southeast of Iceland you will find a Glaciar lagoon. It is called Jökulsárlón or Blue lagoon. This lagoon has become one of the most popular attractions in Iceland due to its stunning beauty. It is located near road number one, about 370 km east of the capital Reykjavík.
Glaciers
Jökulsárlón is one of the natural gems of Iceland. Thousands of people usually travel to Jökulsárlón throughout the year to watch the free-flowing glaciers, explore the lagoon on boat trips and, if lucky catch a glimpse of wild seals. With a maximum depth of 248 meters Jökulsárlón is the deepest lake in Iceland. Its area is 18 km². The glaciers in the lake consist of ice older than 1000 years.
It first began to form in 1934 when the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier began to retreat leaving a lagoon in its path. The size of the lagoon has quadrupled since the early 1970s due to global warming. It is connected to the ocean and therefore consists of a mixture of sea and fresh water which causes its unique color. Seals can be seen in Jökulsárlón all year round but in winter they flock to the mouth of the lagoon to catch fish. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any during our visit, but maybe luck will smile on you!
The lagoon is naturally formed from melted glacial water and is constantly growing. Meanwhile, large blocks of ice are falling off the ever-shrinking glacier. This makes the lagoon unique as it will look different every time you visit.
Smaller pieces of glacier that break off and fall into the lagoon slowly melt and are carried out to sea. They are washed by the waves of the North Atlantic. Then the ocean washes them to the shore of a black beach called Diamond beach. Diamond beach is always covered with transparent crystal clear pieces of glacier that glisten in the sun like diamonds.
Warnings
You will find a few parking lots by the main road. From there you can walk to the glacial lake. At the beginning of the marked route, pay attention to the warning sign. Please be cautious because if you violate them you may injure yourself.
Parking lots
Remember that the road along the southern coast to Jökulsárlón is breathtakingly beautiful. So be sure to take your time and enjoy the views. There are several parking lots along road number 1, which runs along the lake. We recommend stopping at a few of them, because you can walk from the parking lot to the lake. You will get a different view from each place. The walk from the parking lot to the lake takes a maximum of 5 minutes. Look at the map below and you will find indicated places where you can park your car.
Boat trips
If it is not enough for you to stand on the shore of the lake and watch huge pieces of glaciers from afar you have the option of going on a trip by boat. You will have several options to choose from. You will have the opportunity to see the glaciers up close, take beautiful photos, enjoy the cruise and maybe you will be able to spot seals. You will have a guide with you on the boat who will give you additional information about this amazing place. We would recommend two companies with which you can book tours. The first of them has a website www.icelagoon.com and you can find all the necessary information on their website and the second is www.adventures.is. Choose yourself.
TIP: Not so many people probably know about Fjallsárlón. It’s another glacial lagoon close to Jokulsarlon. Fjallsárlón specializes in small group iceberg boat tours making each tour rich and personal.
Visit Diamond beach
If you will be near the lagoon you must not miss Diamond beach. We have prepared an article for you with more detailed information about this interesting beach.