Hofsjökull is a large temperate glacier located in Iceland’s
central highlands, between
Langjökull to the west and
Vatnajökull to the east.
Covering approximately 925 km², it is the third largest glacier in Iceland.
The highest point of Hofsjökull reaches about 1,765 meters above sea level, making
it one of the highest glacier summits in the country. Beneath the ice lies an
active volcanic system that has significantly shaped the surrounding landscape.
Hofsjökull was formerly known as Arnarfellsjökull, named after the nearby mountain
Arnarfell hið mikla. The glacier later received its current name from the farm
Hof in Vesturdalur in the Skagafjörður region.
Numerous glacial rivers originate from Hofsjökull and flow both northward and
southward, including rivers feeding into
Skagafjörður
and the wetlands of
Þjórsárver.
The glacier therefore plays a crucial role in Iceland’s hydrology.
Due to its remote location, Hofsjökull remains one of the least visited major
glaciers in Iceland. Its surroundings are characterized by vast highland plains,
braided glacial rivers, and untouched wilderness.
Hofsjökull represents one of the purest examples of Iceland’s raw
highland nature, where ice, fire, and water continue to shape the land far from
human settlement.
Hofsjökull liggur á miðhálendi Íslands.