Mýrdalsjökull

The ice cap sitting on top of Katla, one of Iceland's most closely monitored volcanoes. Katla erupts roughly every 40-80 years, and the last major eruption was in 1918 — which means scientists keep a close eye on it. A major eruption would melt ice and send massive glacial floods (jökulhlaups) across the south coast sandur plains.

For visitors, Mýrdalsjökull is most accessible through its outlet glacier Sólheimajökull (see separate entry), where glacier walks and ice climbing are the main activities. In winter, Katla ice cave tours run from Vík — these enter natural caves in the glacier's southern edge and are a different experience from the Vatnajökull blue ice caves.

The ice cap is visible from much of the south coast between Skógafoss and Vík. You can't drive onto it or access it independently. The glacier covers about 595 square kilometres and reaches 1,493 metres at its highest point. It's roughly 160 km from Reykjavík to the nearest access points.