Jökulsárlón

Infobox lake
lake_name = Jökulsárlón
image_lake = Jökulsárlón April 07-3.jpg
caption_lake =
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coords = coord|64|03|08|N|16|21|37|W|region:IS_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
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basin_countries = Iceland
length =
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area = 18 km²
depth =
max-depth = c. 200 m
volume =
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Jökulsárlón is the best known and the largest of a number of glacial lakes in Iceland. It is situated at the south end of the glacier Vatnajökull between Skaftafell National Park and Höfn. Appearing first only in 1934-1935, the lake grew from 7.9 km² in 1975 to at least 18 km² today because of heavy melting of the Icelandic glaciers. Approaching a depth of 200 m, Jökulsárlón is now probably the second deepest lake in Iceland.

Jökulsárlón is separated from the sea by only a short distance, and the combined action of the glacier, the river that empties from the lake, and the ocean may eventually transform it into an inlet of the sea. There are plans to prevent this from happening, since the only road in the area passes over the narrow isthmus.

It is not far from the Icelandic Ring Road, and buses travelling between Höfn and Reykjavík usually stop there. The lake is filled with icebergs, which are calving off the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier.

At its shore, in the summertime, one has to watch out for the skúas, big seagulls which have their nests on the ground around the lake and which can occasionally become aggressive.

Near Jökulsárlón, there are two other glacial lakes, Fjallsárlón and Breiðárlón.

The homepage of the Jöklusarlón Landowners is [http://www.jokulsarlon.com jokulsarlon.com]

In the media

A number of films have had scenes shot at Jökulsárlón, including Beowulf and Grendel, Tomb Raider, Die Another Day (James Bond), Batman Begins and A View to a Kill (James Bond). The lagoon was a waypoint during the first stage of The Amazing Race 6. Good Morning America was broadcast live from Jökulsárlón on November 13 2006. [ [http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news/?cat_id=16539&ew_0_a_id=244634 IcelandReview Online] , accessed 2006-11-14]

ee also

* Lakes of Iceland

References

External links

* [http://www.icelandphotoblog.com/index.php?x=browse&tag=j%C3%B6kuls%C3%A1rl%C3%B3n Photos from Icelandphotoblog.com]
* [http://www.simnet.is/gardarj/tmap/lon.htm Information]
* [http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/g/greatskua/index.asp Description of skuas]