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Glaciers
Approximately
11.5% of Iceland is covered in glaciers. The
largest glacier, Vatnajökull, is approximately
8,300 square kilometres; equal to the size of all
the glaciers on the European mainland combined.
Vatnajökull reaches up to one thousand metres
thick at parts, and as deep as 160 metres below
sea level. Other famous Icelandic glaciers include
Langjökull and Hofsjökull, which are both over
nine hundred square kilometres and located in the central
highlands,
Myrdalsjökull, which reaches seven hundred square
kilometres is located in the south;
and Drangajökull in the northwest
is around one hundred and sixty kilometres square.
Due to a milder climate over the past century,
some of Iceland's smaller glaciers have altogether
disappeared, while others have greatly thinned and
receded. Some glaciers are now beginning to
advance once again.
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