This Country Has Europe's Largest Glacier-Plus Active Volcanoes, a 'Diamond' Beach, and Gorgeous Lagoons

"Glaciers are some of Earth's most ethereal-and mighty-natural wonders. But few are more stunning than Iceland's Vatnajökull ice cap. Covering more than 3,000 square miles and eight percent of the country, it's not only Iceland's largest glacier but the largest in Europe. It's said that if Vatnajökull was spread evenly over the entirety of Iceland, it would form a 98-foot-thick layer of ice."

"In addition to being enshrined as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, Vatnajökull National Park has been named one of the most important geological sites on the planet by the International Geological Union. Its diverse, otherworldly landscapes are the result of millennia of interplay between fire and ice. At over 5,000 square miles, the vastness of Vatnajökull National Park can feel difficult to comprehend. But it's not too hard to see and experience the beauty of the area firsthand."

Vatnajökull covers more than 3,000 square miles and about eight percent of Iceland, making it the largest glacier in Europe. Spread evenly across Iceland the ice would reach about 98 feet thick. At least seven volcanoes (most active), caldera lakes, and geothermal cauldrons lie beneath the glacier's surface. Vatnajökull National Park, exceeding 5,000 square miles, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019 and recognized by the International Geological Union for geological importance. Skaftafellsstofa Visitor Centre provides year-round access to Skaftafellsjökull, with winter treks lasting about two hours. Jökulsárlón lagoon and nearby Diamond Beach showcase glacial icebergs and coastal ice deposits.

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