Breiðamerkurjökull
Breiðamerkurjökull (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈpreiːðaˌmɛr̥kʏrˌjœːkʏtl̥] ⓘ) is an outlet glacier of the larger glacier of Vatnajökull and a piedmont glacier in the southern part of Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland. Emerging as a tongue of the Vatnajökull, it ends in two lagoons, famous Jökulsárlón and smaller and less known Breiðárlón. Over time, it has gradually been breaking down.
As the icebergs break away from the tongue of the glacier, they drift slowly to the mouth of the lagoon and eventually join the ocean. They are stated to float in the deep lagoon for 5 years, which is around 300 m deep and spreads over an area of 17 km2. It was near the ring road until 35 years ago before retreating rapidly and forming the Jökulsárlón lagoon. The 752 m high Breiðamerkurfjall [ˈpreiːðaˌmɛr̥kʏrˌfjatl̥] mountain was enclosed by the Breiðamerkurjökull and Fjallsjökull [ˈfjalsˌjœːkʏtl̥] before the drifting started and formed the Breiðárlón [ˈpreiːðˌaurˌlouːn] lagoon, which is not as dramatic as the Jökulsárlón lagoon.
The tongue of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier is a major attraction for tourists. Tour operators conduct snowmobiles and jeep tours to visit the glacier along the winding iceberg studded Jökulsárlón lagoon. The base station for visits to the area is at Jöklasel [ˈjœhklaˌsɛːl̥], which is approached from Höfn. It is termed as Tourist Conveyor belt. While walking on the shore, the isolated big blocks of icebergs on the sand beaches can be seen.
The location has been used for many films and commercials. The glacier was used in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider as a stand-in for Siberia.