Inside the Langjokull Glacier in Iceland

#InsideLangjokullGlacierIceland
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.

Other Options
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 and there are many hidden sinkholes
atop of the glacier
 Then these caves sometimes fill up with water then collapses,
so i think i answered the question

 

The Excavation
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 

 Old NATO Missile Launcher
This  is our mode of transportation today, which in itself is an unique experience up the glacier
 and to its entrance

Engineering Feat
So once i got to Langjokull,  i did a little research on how its possible for us to access a tunnel year round, as please remember 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

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

Extreme Machinery
 It reminds you of the weather elements of this country of Iceland,
as they modify the vehicles with large, low-pressure tires for driving on glaciers or deep snow

Winter Clearing
In the City of Reykjavik, many of the sidewalk plus roads are heated by 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 

 Dog Mushing Teams
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

Built For The Weather
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

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

Going Deep
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

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

Lit Up
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

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

Icesheet Facts
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

Ice Church
Yes you can get married here and with such good acoustics that this room has also been used for
 music performances plus recordings 

Word Meaning
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

Natural Crevasse 
They form on the surface due to the ice stretching or flowing over obstacles
in the bedrock

Glaciers Move
  They inch along under its own weight flowing downhill as the snow accumulates
 Then it turns to ice and with that weight comes internal pressure
as gravity takes over

Education Purposes
One reason for these tunnels is to educate as many people as possible the devastating effects of man made climate change
Scientists predict that 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 

How It Was Done
The tunnels were carved using a large excavator with a drum cutter attachment plus payloaders to remove the ice and snow

 Bond
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  

North Pole
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