Description
Sólheimajökull Glacier has a wealth of dramatic ice formations including crevasses, rugged ridges and sinkholes. Sólheimajökull is a glacier tongue of Mýrdalsjökull – the 4th largest glacier in Iceland. The rugged face of Sólheimajökull glacier is and constantly changing. The impact of climate change can be seen very clearly here – the glacier has retreated about a kilometer over the last decade. Many different glacier tongues stretch out from potent mother glacier Mýrdalsjökull including Kötlujökull (also known as Höfðabrekkujökull), Öldufellsjökull, Sandfellsjökull and last but not least Sólheimajökull. The river Jökulsá runs down from Sólheimajökull filled with glacial meltwater, which is rich with smelly sulphuric acid from the subglacial areas. The river has sometimes been called the “stinky river” due to this fact – But, this isn’t the only nicknamed known to the area. In the 1930’s Sólheimajökull, which had up until then been growing, suddenly started retreating and today it is hard to pinpoint its exact size. This is why the glacier is often nicknamed 'The Shrinking Glacier' and many travelers visit the glacier due to the fact that in a few centuries it might not still be there. (Source: Sólheimajökull Glacier | Arctic Adventures)