Solheimajokull (Sólheimajökull) glacier
Solheimajokull (Sólheimajökull) glacier
Solheimajokull is an outlet glacier from Myrdalsjokull, Iceland’s fourth largest icecap. There aren’t many places in the world where you can get up close to a glacier, but this is one of them. The access road tends to be a bumpy ride, so take it slowly. Just before you arrive at the car park, there is a café and toilets on the left.
From the car park, take the 20-minute trail to the edge of the glacier. Note that it is not recommended to approach closer than 40m as the ground can be unstable and there are occasional areas of quicksand.
See moraines, gravel debris that the glacier has brought with it and left behind as it receded. If you look closely at the rocks and mountainside on the way, you can see the tell-tale scratches left by the glacier as it moved.
The nearby river Jokulsa á Solheimasandi comes down from the glacier; it is sometimes called “the foul river” because of its slightly sulphurous smell. You should only go up onto the glacier in the company of a professional glacier guide and with proper equipment – you can book trips to do this. The glacier is hazardous, with deep crevasses.