Design Year Book

Crystal Cave of Svmnafellsjvkull in Iceland's Skaftafell National Park

Posted: 15 Mar 2012 09:09 AM PDT

Created by the awesome forces of nature, the deep blue cave was formed by the glacier meeting the coastline. The centuries old ice coming down the slopes of Öræfajökull via Svínafellsjökull glacier has had almost all of the air pressed out of the ice. This phenomena has turns the ice into this magically blue crystal like ice while the outer surface expose to the weather, sun-rays, dust and other things is white.

Blue ice like this deep blue occurs over hundreds of years and begins when simple snow falls onto ice or in this case a glacier. The snow sticks to the ice and has its air bubbles forced out during the movement of the glacier or transit of the ice. Then this snow freezes more to become ice crystals and becomes clearer.

Located at the bottom of the 6,921 feet tall Vrffajvkull, Iceland's tallest active volcano, the Crystal Cave of Svmnafellsjvkull is accessible through a 22-foot entrance on the shoreline. However because of the instability of ice cave, it is advisable to visit in winter when the cold temperatures harden the ice.