Wednesday, 2 July 2014
Jokulsarlon is a large glacial lake in southeast Iceland, on the edge of Vatnajokull National Park. Situated at the head of the Breioamerkurjokull glacier, it developed into a lake after the glacier started receding from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The lake has grown since then at varying rates because of melting of the glaciers. It is now 1.5 kilometres away from the ocean's edge and covers an area of about 18 km2. It recently became the deepest lake in Iceland, at over 248 metres, as glacial retreat extended its boundaries. The size of the lake has increased fourfold since the 1970s. It is considered as one of the natural wonders of Iceland. The lake can be seen from Highway 1 between Hofn and Skaftafell. It appears as "a ghostly procession of luminous blue icebergs". Jokulsarlon has been a setting for four Hollywood movies: A View to a Kill, Die Another Day, Tomb Raider and Batman Begins, as well as the "reality TV" series Amazing Race. In 1991 Iceland issued a postage stamp, with a face value of 26 kronur, depicting Jokulsarlon. The tongue of the Breioamerkurjokull glacier is a major attraction for tourists. Source
