Jökulsárlón, Proglacial lake in Eastern Region, Iceland
Jökulsárlón is a glacial lake at the foot of Vatnajökull in the Eastern Region of Iceland, formed by icebergs breaking off from Breidamerkurjokull. The floating ice blocks drift slowly across the basin before disappearing through a narrow passage into the ocean.
The basin formed from 1934 onward when Breidamerkurjokull retreated and left a deep hollow in the ground. The withdrawal of the glacier accelerated over the following decades and shaped the current lagoon.
The name combines the Icelandic words for glacier, river and lagoon, describing precisely the form of this body of water. Visitors often see seals resting on ice chunks and can watch how the water shifts from deep blue to turquoise depending on the light.
The lagoon sits directly along the ring road and is clearly visible from the main route. Boat tours depart during the warmer months and allow closer approach to the ice blocks.
The channel linking the lagoon to the Atlantic lets salty seawater flow in and influences the color and transparency of the water. The depth reaches over 240 meters (790 feet) at some points and makes this one of the deepest lakes in the country.
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