Walking on the Disappearing Sólheimajökull Glacier
Sólheimajökull is an outlet glacier of the larger Mýrdalsjökull ice cap which lies atop the Katla caldera. Mýrdalsjökull itself has many other outlet glaciers; overall, it is the fourth largest ice cap in Iceland. Beneath its thick surface is one of the country’s most infamous volcanoes, Katla.
The nearby Eyjafjallajökull erupted in 2010 causing widespread havoc at European airports. Throughout history, eruptions in Eyjafjallajökull mean that Katla will also erupt, and so the volcano is due to go off soon. However, volcanoes and all seismic activity in Iceland is highly monitored, meaning that it is perfectly safe to travel around the area and even take an ice cave tour in the glacier above.
At the parking lot, you will be outfitted with safety gear, helmet, axes and crampons. It's a short walk to the base for a short orientation then the walk up the glacier, over black sand, blue ice and within view of some deep crevasses.
Sadly, like all the glaciers in Iceland bar one, Sólheimajökull is shrinking rapidly. A glacier lagoon at its base reveals how quickly it is receding: the length of an Olympic swimming pool every year. It seems like this change is already an irreversible consequence of climate change, and it may be gone within decades.
The glacier is melting rapidly around 60 metres per year owing to warmer annual temperatures due to climate change.
Hiking this glacier is exhilarating but also sad, knowing it will disappear by the end of the century.