Geitlandsjökull

Geitlandsjökull
Vatnajökull
Geitlandsjökull as seen from adjacent Prestahnúkur to the east.
TypeOutlet glacier
LocationIceland
Coordinates64°36′00″N 20°36′00″W / 64.60000°N 20.60000°W / 64.60000; -20.60000
Area13 km2 (5.0 sq mi):503
Highest elevation1,400 m (4,600 ft)
Statusstable
Geitlandsjökull
Geitlandsjökull
Location in Iceland
Highest point
Elevation1,400 m (4,600 ft)
Coordinates64°36′00″N 20°36′00″W / 64.60000°N 20.60000°W / 64.60000; -20.60000
Geography
LocationIceland
Geology
Mountain typeTuya

Geitlandsjökull (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈceitˌlan(t)sˌjœːkʏtl̥] ) is a lateral glacier of Langjökull, with a flowshed of 13 km2 (5.0 sq mi) from the second largest ice cap in Iceland at 904 km2 (349 sq mi), in the west of Iceland.:503 It has also been used as the name for the substantial Langjökull ice cap, as has the name Suðurjöklar.:18 The highest point of Geitlandsjökull, which lies on top of a tuya, reaches a height of 1,400 m (4,600 ft).

Unlike most of the outlet glaciers of Langjökull which are retreating, its recent mass balance is stable, as it intercepts the predominant low pressure weather systems from the south-west.:503 In the Grettis saga the outlaw Grettir Ásmundarson climbed Geitlandsjökull and walked south from it to a grassy valley with hot springs and surrounded by glaciers on all sides.