What is the name of Iceland’s largest glacier by area?

Vatnajökull is Iceland’s largest glacier by area.

Located mainly in southeast Iceland, Vatnajökull covers roughly 7,700 square kilometres, although its area changes as the ice advances and retreats. It is also one of Europe’s largest ice caps by volume and contains numerous outlet glaciers flowing from its ice sheet.

The glacier sits over an active volcanic region. Several volcanoes lie beneath or near the ice, including Grímsvötn and Bárðarbunga. Subglacial eruptions can melt large quantities of ice and produce sudden floods known as jökulhlaups.

Vatnajökull should not be confused with Iceland’s highest volcano, Hvannadalshnúkur, which rises along its southern edge. The nearby Vatnajökull National Park, established in 2008, includes the glacier and extensive surrounding landscapes.