Glacial Lagoon and the Diamonds

Hofskirkja is one of the 6 remaining turf church in Iceland and is the last of the old churches to be built in this beautiful turf style. Its walls are made of rock and the roof is made of stone slabs, covered with turf. It was only minutes away drive from ring road, hence we spend few moments sight seeing this beautiful and unique church.

Random glacier tongue that flow from Vatnajökull.

Unique church covered with turf.

Walk carefully by the church as it was cemetery around.

Many tourists around.

History notes about Hofskirkja.

Front view of Hofskirkja.

Side view of Hofskirkja.

Cemetery beside Hofskirkja.

The roof covered with turf.

Window on the roof.

Sue Hui with Hofskirkja.

Front view of Hofskirkja, inside the entrance gate.

Next we continue our drive for ~30 KM, and we are at Fjallsárlón Glacial Lagoon. Fjallsárlón is a glacier lake at the south end of the Icelandic glacier Vatnajökull. Fjallsjökull which is part of the bigger glacier reaches down to the water of the lake and some ice-bergs are drifting by on its surface. From the car park, we are yet to see lagoon itself hence I guess we have to walk slight uphill in order to view it. The wind is quite strong out during our walk, but luckily the distance was just 5 minutes from the car.

I think it is impossible to have exact count of waterfalls in Iceland.

Easily 5-6 waterfalls visible in a single frame.

Highlight of Fjallsárlón, heart shape glacier!

Amazing Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon.

Endless Vatnajökull glaciers on the top.

Closer view to the heart shape glaciers.

The glacier tongue was truly gigantic.

Very photogenic crystal blue iceberg on the lake.

Me via Fjallsárlón Glacial Lagoon. Photo credited to Hybrid.

Off we go to Jökulsárlón, but please wait for me.

Our next destination, Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon was just 10 minutes away from Fjallsárlón. Jökulsárlón is a large glacial lake in southeast Iceland, on the edge of Vatnajökull National Park. Situated at the head of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, it developed into a lake after the glacier started receding from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The lake has grown since then at varying rates because of melting of the glaciers. It is now 1.5 KM away from the ocean's edge. It recently became the deepest lake in Iceland, at over 248 metres, as glacial retreat extended its boundaries. The size of the lake has increased fourfold since the 1970s. It is considered as one of the natural wonders of Iceland.

Fjallsjökull glacier and heart shape glacier can still be seen far away here.

Amazing view at Jökulsárlón.

Huge glacier lake full of crystal blue iceberg.

It was Atlantic ocean those iceberg slowly flow out to.

Unique iceberg with staircase alike.

Me via Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon. Photo credited to Hybrid.

From lower ground.

Another view of staircase iceberg from higher ground.

Jökulsárlón under slight dawn scenery.

A boat cruise by iceberg on the lake.

From higher ground.

Stones on the lake side.

Hybrid at Jökulsárlón, with a stone.

Ying Ying at Jökulsárlón, with a stone.

Sweet couple at Jökulsárlón.

Final peek of Jökulsárlón before moving on.

Just opposite road from Jökulsárlón was the magical Diamond beach. Iceberg via Jökulsárlón flow into Atlantic Ocean and get polished by the ocean, some of it get stranded on to the black sand beach here, and it does looks like diamond! I guess this is why people calling this place the Diamond beach.

Those diamonds are so unique on its own, and I felt it was so special because you will never expect what type of 'art works' will be appearing here when you pay your visit. You will need to utilize your imagination to its fullest, just like the way you look on the clouds on the sky. You will find many surprise here.