August 13: Jokulsarlon

We were up before 6:00 am so that we could enjoy the breathtaking views of Stokksnes.  This strategy was successful as Ashley found the perfect reflective pool for some amazing early morning photographs.  It was another example of the early bird’s reward!

After visiting a thermal bath in Hofn, we devoured a couple famous Icelandic hotdogs with all the fixings.  The fixings included ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise along with raw and fried onions – an incredibly delicious and nutritious lunch.

The highlight of the day was our stop at Jokulsarlon where we observed huge icebergs floating in the waters right off the shore..  Seals, seagulls and tourists were well represented in this picturesque location. The commercialization of Iceland was on display as many companies enticed tourists to partake in various ice lagoon tours including kayaking and paddleboarding.  I was disappointed to see so many gas powered boats in the waters in such a sacred place.

Jökulsárlón, often called the "Crown Jewel of Iceland," is not only breathtaking but also relatively young in geological terms. The glacier lagoon began forming in the 1930s as the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier started to retreat due to rising temperatures. Over the decades, the lagoon has grown significantly in size and depth, now reaching up to 248 meters (814 feet) deep — making it Iceland’s deepest lake. What makes Jökulsárlón even more fascinating is that many of the icebergs floating in the lagoon are over 1,000 years old, having broken off from the glacier before slowly drifting toward the Atlantic Ocean. Seeing these ancient chunks of ice, some streaked with volcanic ash from past eruptions, was a humbling reminder of Iceland’s ever-changing landscape.