Inside the Langjokull Glacier in Iceland

#Inside_Glacier_Iceland

On our way to the Langjokull Ice Cap (second largest in Iceland) which is 195km or 47cubic miles in volume (huge)
Our tour picks us up in Reykjavik with lots of interesting views on our journey during our two hour drive

KeyTip;
 This tour is not cheap ( $245.00 US) but as you will see when exploring inside this glacier for one hour it is well worth it.

Can you walk the glacier yourself you ask (as there are some natural ice caves too)
Well the terrain can be rough, the weather is unpredictable
 plus there are many hidden sinkholes atop of the glacier and so these caves sometimes fill up with water then collapses......so i think i answered the question

 

Langjokull glacier tunnel took 14 months of digging and 7000 tons of ice was removed, placed to the outside surface of the glacier which after it finally opened in June of 2015

Interesting Fact;
Since its located over a mountain range there are places where you can actually see the peaks coming through the ice 

An old 8x8 truck and old NATO Missile Launcher is our mode of transportation today, which in itself is an unique experience up the glacier and to its entrance

So once i got to Langjokull  i did a little research on this feat of engineering that  allows us access to a tunnel year round, as during the summer months there is a risk of ice collapsing because of the warmer temperatures. 

Well a team of architects, engineers and geophysicists worked of solving this problem, with the end result was the worlds longest tunnel (500 meters long (1640 feet), 3 meter tall (10 feet) plus 3.5 meters wide (12 feet) 
There is 25 meters (82 feet) of ice above the tunnel and 200 meters (656 feet) below, so more than stable

Look closely at the right side of the windshield
as i managed to get a reflection of where we are heading✌

Some extreme machinery here as it reminds you of the weather elements of this country of Iceland
They modify the vehicles with large, low-pressure tires for driving on glaciers or deep snow

In the City of Reykjavik many of the sidewalk plus roads are heated using  geothermal energy systems to melt the snow as it comes down to prevent ice formation

Snowcats
Used for grooming at ski resorts worldwide, in Iceland their main use is to transport people across glaciers and other rough, snowy terrains 

I spotted some Dog Mushing Teams on our way up the Ice Cap to the Glacier

Each dog has a specific role in the team, with the lead being the most important as for setting the pace plus guiding the sled
And not too worry as the sled canines are incredibly resilient
 Having double coats for protection from the harsh elements plus are genetically predisposed to be  healthy and living longer due to their active lifestyle

The entrance reminds me of a straw in a milkshake 😂
The culvert was added to extend the entrance away from the surface snow drift area

Heading down 80 meters (262 feet) into the glacier
Often described as a "one eye binocular" shape and with the annual snow conditions plus glacial movements, it requires maintenance throughout the year

I took advantage of the lighting to get this cool silhouette picture of my group

I liked how they placed the LED lights within the five man-made chambers to get some great photos

Did You Know
LEDs were invented way back in 1962, but now are used in everything from streetlights to the New York Times Square Ball
They contain no mercury and are highly energy efficient plus very important here, they produce very little heat plus no UV light

Yes you can bring your own snacks and water, as this was my pull up station

Langjokull is the second largest glacier in Europe and your able to explore inside it
Let that fact sink into your brain for a minute

Beneath the Ice
 There are at least two active volcanic systems with the calderas visible from above
The geothermal energy from this heats the glacial water which helps form the famous hot springs of Iceland, plus some lava caves near Langjokull

Yes there is a church inside the glacier and you can get married here, with such good acoustics that this room has also been used for music performances plus recordings 

The name Langjokull translates to "long glacier" in Icelandic, as it lives up to that name as its the worlds largest man-made ice cave

This natural crevasse will always be my favorite memory

They form on the surface due to the ice stretching or flowing over obstacles in the bedrock,
 as remember all glaciers move under its own weight flowing downhill as the snow accumulates, then it turns to ice and with that weight comes internal pressure

So one purpose of these tunnels is to educate as many people as possible the devastating effects of man made climate change
Scientists predict this glacier could be completely gone within the next 100 years if the current warmings trends continue
As for now Langjokull is losing over one meter ( four feet) per year 

The tunnels were carved using a large excavator with a drum cutter attachment plus payloaders to remove the ice plus snow

As i leave the glacier, the exit reminds me of a 007 adventure i just experienced 😎
then we jump back onto our way cool transportation  

As i leave this adventure my ride is taking me to Grimsey and its ferry
From there i plan onto hiking to/across the Arctic Circle as the Cold Tour continues