Svínafellsjökull

The magnificent Svínafellsjökull, located close to Skaftafell, is a glacial tongue of Vatnajökull and is not only the largest glacier in Iceland, but also in Europe. Part of the Skaftafell Nature Reserve and now Vatnajökull National Park, Svínafellsjökull is an outlet glacier located between three glaciers – Virkisjökull, Skaftafellsjökull and Falljökull and is popular all over the world for its sparkling blue ice, intricate structures, unusual formations and large glacial tongue, with several cracks formed over a period of time.

The magnificent Svínafellsjökull, located close to Skaftafell, is a glacial tongue of Vatnajökull and is not only the largest glacier in Iceland, but also in Europe. Part of the Skaftafell Nature Reserve and now Vatnajökull National Park, Svínafellsjökull is an outlet glacier located between three glaciers – Virkisjökull, Skaftafellsjökull and Falljökull and is popular all over the world for its sparkling blue ice, intricate structures, unusual formations and large glacial tongue, with several cracks formed over a period of time.

The unusual name literally means ‘pig mountain glacier’ and interestingly the farms below too have svin (pig) in their names. During the past few years the glacier has been melting at a very fast pace, which has resulted in the formation of a lagoon. Keeping the safety options, glacier walks are no longer permitted after a large crack was seen in the mountain above the glacier in 2018 and glacier tours booked in the name of Svínafellsjökull are now operated on a Falljökull glacier located close by.

Svínafellsjökull offers an amazing view all around, right from the extending Vatnajökull National Park, the protruding mountain peaks, lush forests to the sea beyond. Svínafellsjökull, a photographers’ delight, is also made famous by the Game of Thrones series, which features this location as ‘beyond the wall.’