Melting and Retreating
How fast is Solheimajokull Glacier melting?
Too fast, sadly!
It is estimated that Solheimajokull Glacier is receding about 50 meters (about 164 feet) each year. That’s the length of an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
Solheimajokull Glacier has been melting and receding at approximately this pace since the mid-1990s, and the meltwaters have created the lagoon you see at its base. This lagoon did not exist even as recently as 2010!
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Because of its low altitude (1300 meters at the top to just 100 meters at the snout), Solheimajokull Glacier is particularly sensitive to climate change.
While some amount of retreating is to be expected, Solheimajokull and other glaciers in Iceland are also affected by climate change.
Because of the speed at which Solheimajokull Glacier is receding, it has been given the nickname of “the Shrinking Glacier.”
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At this pace of melting, scientists estimate that Solheimajokull Glacier will disappear entirely in a matter of decades.
Solheimajokull Glacier is losing its thickness as well, the ice losing about 20 meters (about 66 feet) of thickness each year in places.
Planning a trip to see the glacier? Visit the Solheimajokull Glacier website for the complete rundown on every single detail!
And if you’re just starting to plan your visit to Iceland, check out the some of the top things to do in Iceland, many of which you absolutely don’t want to miss!
Solheimajokull Glacier Melting & Retreating at a Glance
| Solheimajokull Glacier Melting | Details |
|---|---|
| Main Cause of Melting | Climate change – rising global temperatures and local warming trends |
| Retreat Rate | Retreating at an average of 40–60 meters per year since the early 2000s |
| Total Loss Since 2000 | Glacier has retreated more than 1.5 kilometers in just over 20 years |
| Thickness Loss | The glacier has thinned by dozens of meters in some areas over the past decades |
| Lagoon Formation | Lagoon at glacier’s base is growing annually as meltwater accumulates |
Best Things to Do in Iceland at a Glance
| Location | Best Tours (Reserve now, these sell out fast!) |
|---|---|
| Area highlights | Golden Circle, South Coast, South Iceland, Ring Road |
| Reykjavik & from Reykjavik | Food walk, Northern Lights, Reykjavik city walk, whale watching, lava show, Icelandic horseback riding, Silfra snorkeling, puffins, volcano from helicopter, ATV |
| Vik & nearby | Easy glacier walk, black sand beach horse riding, zipline, glacier lagoon kayak |
| North Iceland | Whales & puffins, white water rafting, Godafoss |