Vatnajökull Icecap

The largest glacier in Iceland is Vatnajökull and it is the largest glacier mass in Europe. It covers an area of roughly 8100 km 2, and is about 1000m thick where it is thickest. Its average thickness is between 400 and 500m, and the total ice volume of Vatnajokull is probably in the vicinity of 3300 cubic km. The ELA lies at ca. 1100 m a.s.l. along its southern margins, at 1200 m along its western part, and at 1300 m in its northern part. About 60% of the glacier surface is above the ELA. The ice cap covers a highland plateau, generally reaching 600-800 m altitude, but dissected by numerous broad and narrow subglacial valleys. A number of large volcanoes are covered by the great ice cap, including Oraefajokull (Öræfajökull) (2111 m), Bardarbunga (Bárðarbunga) (2020 m) and Grimsvotn.