Vatnajökull is not only the biggest glacier in Iceland but in the whole of Europe.
It covers over 8100 km2 and has around 30 outlet glaciers. Vatnajökull National Park was founded in 2008 on the foundation of Skaftafell National Park and Jökulsárgljúfur reserve. The National Park is the largest protected area in Europe.
Apart from the glacier, the National Park includes some highly regarded natural marvels; huge glacier rivers, stunning canyons, beautiful glacier lagoons and impressive waterfalls.
Vatnajökull National Park is one of three national parks in Iceland.
It encompasses all of Vatnajökull glacier and extensive surrounding areas.
These include the national parks previously existing at Skaftafell in the southwest and Jökulsárgljúfur in the north.
The unique qualities of Vatnajökull National Park are primarily its great variety of landscape features, created by the combined forces of rivers, glacial ice, and volcanic and geothermal activity
Iceland was given its name due to the vast amount of ice found covering the land.
Still today, there are numerous ice caps to be found all around the country but not a single one gets anywhere close to the voluminous Vatnajökull.
Icelanders are very fond of their glaciers which have decorated their landscaped from settlement and in 2008 the Vatnajökull National park was finally established to protect and serve in the best interest of this magical place.
The park was founded around two pre existing national parks Skaftafell National Park and Jökulsárgljúfur National Park.
The new National Park is the largest protected area in Europe and apart from the glaciers, the National Park includes some highly regarded natural marvels; huge glacier rivers, stunning canyons, beautiful glacier lagoons, and impressive waterfalls.
Vatnajökull National Park reaches all the way up to the North to Ásbyrgi and beyond and all the way down to the flatland in the South.
It reaches West almost touching the highland lake Þórisvatn and in the East, it extends into Fljótsdalshreppur where the wild reindeer roam.
It is safe to say that the largest National Park in Europe reaches over some of the most fascinating areas in Iceland.
Vatnajökull National Park,Iceland. Satellite Views
(Credits by ESA.int)
