Glacial rivers in "the land of fire and ice"—Iceland—have shaped the landscape over thousands of years. The rivers seen in today"s image are formed from the meltwater of vast glaciers like Vatnajökull, Langjökull and Hofsjökull. Vatnajökull, the largest ice cap in Iceland, covers over 770,000 hectares—approximately 10% of the country"s landmass. As the glaciers melt, the water carries fine sediments, creating a braided river system with a milky appearance that contrasts with the earthy tones of the volcanic terrain. Every spring and summer, the rivers swell with seasonal meltwater, continually shaping and reshaping the land.
Glacial rivers, Iceland
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, Lamphun, Thailand
-
Torra di a Parata, Corsica, France
-
Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
-
Eurasian red squirrel
-
Nuuk, Greenland
-
Hoodoos, Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA
-
A pine forest in Alsace, France
-
The Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
-
Emerald Bay and Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe, California, United States
-
Magellanic penguins, Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands
-
Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
-
Lavender fields in Plateau de Valensole, France
-
A kingfisher perched on a branch
-
Modica, Sicily, Italy
-
Milky Way over the Elbow River, Alberta, Canada
-
Art Installation of umbrellas, London, England
-
Arches National Park, Utah, United States
-
Megalong Valley, Blue Mountains National Park, NSW, Australia
-
North American beaver, Moran, Wyoming, United States
-
Fallow deer in Bradgate Park, England
-
Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
-
Retiro Park, Madrid, Spain
-
Garden at Château de Villandry, Loire Valley, France
-
Palazzo Zuccari, Rome, Italy
-
Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA
-
Sligachan Old Bridge, Isle of Skye, Scotland
-
Elephant Rock, Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia
-
Arraial do Cabo, Brazil
-
Mangrove trees, Walakiri Beach, island of Sumba, Indonesia
-
Haut-Barr Castle, Vosges, France
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

