Winter in Iceland: Ice, snow and glacier Langjökull

In the minds of the average inhabitant of the western world, Iceland appears as an icy land, eternally covered in snow, where polar bears run around and vodka freezes outdoors. Meanwhile, the winters in Iceland are much milder than those in Poland!

At least in terms of temperature. The ubiquitous wind and humidity lower the perceptible temperature, but this does not change the fact that it usually oscillates between -5 °C and 0 °C. So it's not that bad. The north of the country is affected by much more intense snowfall, so much so that often when you open the door from home you can only see snow. So a half-hour delay to work is the norm there, because everyone must somehow dig through the exit from their den. However, in return they have a much more pleasant and sunny summer.

I have gathered a few photos showing Iceland from this white side. The photos come from various places, especially Snæfellsnes, the west and south of the island, as well as from a trip to the Langjökull glacier and into the ice cave in there!

Glaciers are fascinating and I would like to find myself back on one of them one day again. These are literally ice deserts, in the depths of which continuous movements and dances of water and various stages of compression of ice and snow take place. The wind, having nothing that would stop it, blows on the glacier much faster, and is also much colder in there. Glaciers are fascinating and I would like to find myself back on one of them one day again. These are literally ice deserts, in the depths of which continuous movements and dances of water and various stages of compression of ice and snow take place. The wind, having nothing that would stop it, blows on the glacier much faster, and is also much colder in there. When driving a snowmobile in a thick suit and gloves, you can still feel chilly. The ice cave on Langjökull, the only ice cave of its kind in the world that has been artificially drilled by man, is quite nicer and much warmer.

Over 30 meters into the glacier leads a tunnel, which then forks into a few smaller ones. A total of several hundred meters of walking under the ice. Inside several rooms are also hollowed out, including a chapel (yes, you can get married there!). Year after year, the interior of the tunnels changes slightly and shifts by a dozen or so centimetres, so it has to be under constant observation of scientists.

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Two extra non-winter related at the end! On the last, goodbye-to-Iceland trip to the mountains, after a few hours of lonely trekking I met reindeer! The resting herd, as soon as it saw me, got up and ran away. The sight was mesmerizing.

Coming back through Akureyri I did not hesitate to have an Icelandic hot dog. In the center of Akureyri is a booth that makes them in really crazy versions. One of them contained bacon and beans (the other one had an extra egg for that, so you can have an English breakfast hot-dog, yay!).