Breidamerkurjokull is a large outlet glacier flowing south from Vatnajokull, Iceland's largest ice cap. Its front is about 13 kilometres wide, and at its calving front the ice can move up to about 5 metres a day. It also feeds Jokulsarlon, where the lagoon grew from about 8 square kilometres in 1975 to about 17.5 square kilometres by 2004.
What and where Breidamerkurjokull is
Breidamerkurjokull is a large outlet glacier flowing south from Vatnajokull, Iceland's largest ice cap. Its front is about 13 kilometres wide.
The glacier that feeds Jokulsarlon
Breidamerkurjokull calves icebergs into the Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon at its edge.
A growing lagoon
As the glacier retreats, the lagoon has grown: it covered about 8 square kilometres in 1975 and about 17.5 square kilometres by 2004.
Iceland's fastest-moving glacier
At its calving front the ice can move up to about 5 metres a day, the fastest of any glacier in Iceland.
Seeing Breidamerkurjokull and Jokulsarlon
A Breidamerkurjokull glacier hike is one guided way to approach the ice. You can compare ice cave tours for current options. For live conditions, check safetravel.is.
Plan for changing conditions
Iceland road conditions provides the current road information to check before a trip that includes Breidamerkurjokull Glacier at Jokulsarlon.
