Mýrdalsjökull

The Icelandic glacier Mýrdalsjökull covers the Katla volcano on the southern shores of the island. The influence on this landscape of the interaction between glacier and volcano is observed from two distinct vantage points here. The Sólheimajökull glacial tongue extends furthest west from the main glacier and it seems to struggle with the surrounding mountains. The ice is covered in volcanic ash, and the occasional boulder can be seen lying on the frozen water. A landscape in slow motion transformation. Around 40km to the East lies Mýrdalssandur, a vast area of volcanic ash leading all the way to the beach. Periodic eruptions of Katla cause catastrophic floods of water and volcanic ash washing this area flat. A few outcrops are holding out, as if nothing had ever happened.