Sólheimajökull

Sólheimajökull is an outlet glacier that descends from the southwest corner of Mýrdalsjökull. It is a so-called "climate glacier" responding quickly to climate change. Access to the glacier tongue is good because it reaches down to the lowlands, and possible to go hiking on the glaciers with tour operators from the parking lot. 

Large and rapid changes have taken place on the glacier in recent years, and one clear example of this is the increased distance required to approach the glacier trail.

Sólheimajökull has long been a research topic for glaciologists. Still, glacier research can tell us much about climate and climate change over the centuries. Still, the glacial history of Sólheimajökull is in many ways unusual compared to other Icelandic glaciers.

Over a hundred years ago, the glacial footprints of the Sólheimajökull glacier lay considerably in front of the current car park.