Vatnajökull is Europe's largest glacier outside the arctic, with a surface area of 8,100 km. Generally measuring 400–600 m in thickness and at the most 950 m, the glacial ice conceals a number of mountains, valleys and plateaus. It even hides some active central volcanoes, of which Bárðarbunga is the largest and Grímsvötn the most active. While the icecap rises at its highest to over 2,000 m above sea level, the glacier base reaches its lowest point 300 m below sea level. Nowhere in Iceland, with the exception of Mýrdalsjökull glacier, does more precipitation fall or more water drain to the sea than on the south side of Vatnajökull. In fact, so much water is currently stored in Vatnajökull that the Icelandic river with the greatest flow, Ölfusá, would need over 200 years to carry this quantity of water to sea.

Vatnajökull National Park was established on 7 June 2008. When established, the park covered an area of 12,000 km, but with recent additions of Lakagígar, Langisjór, Krepputunga and Jökulsárlón (including its surrounding areas) it now covers 14,141 km or approximately 14% of Iceland, making it Europe's second largest national park in terms of area after Yugyd Va in Russia.

When someday comes you'll need to get in.

When someday comes you'll need to be able to get around.