Long Glacier (1355m) is the second largest in Iceland. It has an area
of about 950 km� and most of it rises between 1200 and 1300 m above
sea level. It rests on a massif of hyaloclastite mountains. They rise
highest under its southern and northern parts, but have not yet been
researched thoroughly. The Glaciological Society owns a hut at the
foot of the nunatak Fjallkirkjan (1228m).
southwestern part of the icecap is called Geitlandsjokull. It
rises to the elevation of 1400 metres. On a fine day the view
from up there is excellent.
To the south of
Geitlandjokull and separated from the main iceap, is the smaller, 1350
metres high Thorisjokull on top of an irregular table mountain.
According to the legend, it was named after the ogre Thorir, who lived
in a green valley in the pass between the glaciers.
glacier snouts crawl down to the lower lying regions,
and each of them has a name.
Still another small glacier is located to the west of
the main icecap. Nowadays there is hardly any snow or ice left
on top of this mountain, which is called Ok (1198 m),
and is very
prominent from the so-called Kaldidalur route.
There are two more smaller glaciers around the
big one, to the northwest is Eiriksjokull (1575 m), and to the
east is Hrutafell.
Very little water runs off from The Long Glacier on the surface. It,
however, supplies the largest natural lake of the country and the lakes to the north and
geothermal areas in the West and the Geysir area as well.
Organised snowmobile- and snow scooter tours on the icecap
ar on offer.
Hiking or cross country skiing on the icecaps
depends entirely on the travellers themselves. They decide where
to go and are responsible for the preparations and the gear necessary
for such endeavours.