Near the black plains of Sólheimasandur, amongst the hills, is a great glacier outlet and icefall called Sólheimaskriðjökull. The icefall has a picturesque lagoon at its base and floating icebergs that have broken from the shattered glacier above. The glacier has deep crevasses and stunning ice formations, coloured with ash from nearby volcanoes and sediments that it has picked up on its way as it crawls through the landscape. The location offers a dynamic and ever-changing landscape with sculpted ice that glistens in the sun and even gives off a mesmerising beauty in rainy or cloudy weather. Towering seracs and massive mounds of broken ice result in a world of frozen beauty. The surrounding landscape is also very interesting, bearing witness to the power of nature as the ice moves and carves its way through the land, leaving behind a unique and stunning environment.
Sólheimaskriðjökull
South coast, Iceland
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Climate
The South Coast of Iceland is known for its unpredictable and ever-changing weather. The region is characterized by a subarctic oceanic climate, which means that the temperatures are relatively mild, but the weather can be quite stormy and windy.
Data source Temperature averages
Lighting
The longest day in Iceland is multiple days from May through July when the sun doesn't set. The daylight hours in Iceland on the shortest days of the year are 4-5 hours per day (December to January).
Data source Accessibility
The location lies 4.5 kilometers off route number 1. From the parking lot, there is an 800-metre-long easy hike along an excellent walking path. You could, with a special permission, drive further up the path to the root of the glacier with in a 4-wheeler.
Permits
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Basecamp and facilities
The parking lot at Sólheimaskriðjökull is massive and could accommodate a large basecamp. There are basic facilities on location and phone coverage is excellent at the car park but goes average at the base of the glacier.
Risk factors
Icefall glaciers are constantly moving from the pressure above, they are also covered in crevasses, deep and narrow. Ice blocks can collapse without warning and the temperature is cooler than elsewhere with a risk of hypothermia. Climbing the glacier should not be attempted without climbing guides and a safety team. The lagoons can be deep, and the water is cold and not suitable for swimming.
Visitors
The area is very popular with tourists and several companies have hiking tours planned on and around the glacier.
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