Breiðárlón Glacier Lagoon
About Breiðárlón Glacier Lagoon
Breiðárlón is a glacier lagoon at the foot of Breiðamerkurjökull in Southeast Iceland, lying between Fjallsárlón and Jökulsárlón inside Vatnajökull National Park. It is one of the largest lagoons on the Breiðamerkursandur plain, yet it gets only a trickle of visitors because there is no paved road to its shore.
The lagoon formed as Breiðamerkurjökull began to retreat around the middle of the 20th century, leaving a hollow that filled with meltwater below the mountain Breiðamerkurfjall. Water drains out of Breiðárlón into Fjallsárlón and from there down the Fjallsá river to the sea. Ice breaks off the glacier front into the lagoon, so you will often see bergs drifting near the far shore.
Access is by Breiðalónsvegur, a rough gravel track off Route 1 that is suitable for 4x4 vehicles only. The lagoon is about 20 minutes from Jökulsárlón, depending on the state of the track, and there is a small parking area near the shore. Check the road conditions map before setting out, and skip the track in a regular car.
Once you are there, you can walk along the moraine for views across the water to the glacier. Allow about an hour, keep off the ice and the floating bergs, and bring everything you need, since there are no facilities. Summer and early fall are the realistic months, when the track is dry and daylight is long.
Breiðárlón suits travelers who have already seen Jökulsárlón and want a quieter look at the same glacier. If you don't have a 4x4, Fjallsárlón offers a similar scene from a short side road off Route 1, a few minutes west.
Good to know
Where is Breiðárlón?
Breiðárlón is in Southeast Iceland between Fjallsárlón and Jökulsárlón, at the foot of Breiðamerkurjökull in Vatnajökull National Park. It is about 20 minutes from Jökulsárlón by 4x4 track.
How do you get to Breiðárlón?
Take Breiðalónsvegur, a rough gravel track off Route 1, to a small parking area near the lagoon. The track is suitable for 4x4 vehicles only.
Do you need a 4x4 to reach Breiðárlón?
Yes. The access track is rough and marked for 4x4 vehicles only, so a regular rental car should not attempt it.
Is Breiðárlón worth visiting?
Yes, if you have a 4x4 and want a glacier lagoon without crowds. If you don't, Fjallsárlón nearby gives a similar view and is reachable in any car.
How was Breiðárlón formed?
Breiðárlón formed when Breiðamerkurjökull started retreating around the middle of the 20th century and meltwater filled the hollow the ice left behind. Its water drains into Fjallsárlón.
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