Breiðárlón, Glacial lake near Höfn, Iceland
Breiðárlón emerges from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, featuring dark waters dotted with floating ice blocks that continuously break off from the glacier terminus.
The formation of this glacial lake demonstrates the natural progression of ice retreat that has occurred in Iceland since the end of the Little Ice Age.
Local residents maintain strong connections to the lake through educational programs that teach visitors about glacial processes and environmental changes in Iceland.
The lake remains accessible via Route 1, with designated parking areas and clear pathways leading visitors to prime observation points along the shore.
Seals frequently rest on the scattered icebergs within the lake, creating natural platforms that shift positions as the ice moves across the water.
Location: Sveitarfélagið Hornafjörður
GPS coordinates: 64.05417,-16.36639
Latest update: April 14, 2025 11:38
Iceland is an island shaped by ice and fire. Glaciers cover much of the interior while geothermal areas show that something is always happening beneath the surface. The landscapes here look different from most places: black sand beaches formed by volcanic activity, fjords cutting deep into the coast, waterfalls dropping over cliffs and canyons with moss covered walls. Vatnajökull in the southeast is Europe's largest glacier, while smaller ice caps like Snæfellsjökull or Drangajökull have their own character. Reykjavik sits by the ocean and mixes city life with access to nature. The Harpa concert hall stands by the harbor, Hallgrímskirkja church rises above the rooftops, and along the shore you find the Sólfar sculpture. Lake Tjörnin lies in the center of town. Outside the city, routes lead to natural sites: the Blue Lagoon with its milky blue water, Strokkur geyser that erupts every few minutes, Gullfoss waterfall where a river plunges into a canyon. The southern coast shows different faces. Near Vík there is Reynisfjara beach with its basalt columns and black sand, and not far away the cliff at Dyrhólaey. Diamond Beach near Hornafjörður is scattered with ice chunks washed up by the sea. In the north, Lake Mývatn attracts visitors with its volcanic surroundings, while the Westfjords with the Hornstrandir reserve and the red sand of Rauðasandur beach belong to the more remote parts of the country. The Ring Road connects most of these places and circles the entire island.
Vatnajökull
43.8 km
Skaftafell
29.8 km
Svartifoss
29.8 km
Öræfajökull
60.5 km
Hvannadalshnúkur
15.8 km
Breiðamerkurjökull
31.4 km
Morsárfoss
26.1 km
Diamond Beach
9.3 km
Svínafellsjökull
22.6 km
Hornafjörður
56.7 km
Skaftafellsjökull
24.9 km
Fláajökull
49.1 km
Skeiðará Bridge
32.4 km
Skeiðarárjökull
42.9 km
Kristínartindar
27.3 km
Hundafoss
30.2 km
Sandfell í Öræfum
24.2 km
Magnúsarfoss
30.1 km
Falljökull
21.5 km
Hofskirkja
23.3 km
Morsárjökull
26.5 km
Mulagljufur Canyon
8.5 km
Skalafellsjökull
33.5 km
Kvíárjökull glacier tongue
13.5 km
Heinabergsjökull
40 km
Brunnhólskirkja
52.4 km
Suðurfjörur
55.2 km
Vatnajökull Glacier cave
11.5 kmReviews
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