Iceland is home to the largest ice cap in Europe when measured by volume and it is named Vatnajökull. During the warmer months, pieces of the ice cap “calve” (break off) into a lagoon and ultimately float to Diamond Beach. The beach is located off the Ring Road north of Hafn. The beach consists of black sand and gets its name from the ice chunks that glisten like diamonds along the beach. It is a very impressive sight.
Our first night was first spent near the lagoon where the calved pieces of the ice cap filled the lagoon and, as we were there, we saw numerous ice chunks float toward the ocean. We then drove to Diamond Beach to find it littered with sparkling ice. This photo was taken during sunrise (just before 3am) as the sunlight was lighting up the tip of the mountain across from the beach. It was amazing to watch and experience.