ICE CAVES

Ice Caves are in some shape or form present in most of the Icelandic larger glaciers. They are usually formed naturally, however there is at least one particular one in Langjökull Glacier which is man-made.

The relative easiness of accessibility of the Glaciers in Iceland are an amazing opportunity to experience and visit also these mysterious, another-planet like places.

The process behind Ice cave creation usually involves variety of factors like glacier ice irregularities, water and air flow. For example during spring and summer greater amounts of water both from glacier melting and rain starts to literally dig into the glacier due to the weaknees in the glacier ice. The moulain (vertical shaft is being created). Then the water is not able to continue any further and follows one the deeper more resistant layers along the gravity force. As the water continues to travel below the glacier layers above it creates a tunnel. This tunnel can create its own opening lower on the glacier or just dissapear in the abyss.

Depending on the speed of the glacier melt and tunnel expansion these caves can last from days, weeks months or even years.