Svínafellsjökull

Ash clouds gathered around the venom cold cauldron, compressing the treacherous path below. Crevasses overwhelmed by powerlessness spiral downward, haunted by a faint crackling in the distance. Ice waves carve valleys of obstacles, constantly shifting under their weight, scratching the soil beneath. Procured dust layers journey through unknown depths, dissolving into scattered particles.

Moving Mountains

Svínafellsjökull flows 8km from Vatnajökull to a tiny glacial lagoon where the ice melts at a higher rate of speed. Though not as common at this location, ice calving, when parts of the glacier break away, can occasionally be witnessed. Though they appear still, glaciers are constantly in motion. It is often possible to hear cracks and creaks as the massive ice sheet shifts and breaks, slowly carving out the earth beneath it.

Hidden Giant

Not far above Svínafellsjökull is the tallest point in Iceland, Hvannadalshnúkur. At almost 7,000ft tall, it stands out on an island where most peaks in Iceland are not over 3,000ft tall. This peak sits on the rim of the crater of Öræfajökull, a violent glacial volcano with a history of massive lava flows and flooding. Today, black ash can be seen in unique patterns throughout the glacial tongue, a reminder of previous eruptions from neighboring volcanos.

Abandonded Farms

The region of Skaftafell demonstrates how deeply Icelandic culture is intertwined with the natural world, shaped over thousands of years by volcanic eruptions, glaciers, flooding, and farming. Early settlers developed a large farming community in the region, but over the years farming proved difficult with numerous eruptions and flooding. Farming in Skaftafell has since largely been abandoned. Now, with fewer sheep in the region, vegetation is returning to the once barren landscape.