Vatnajökull National Park
The south side of Vatnajökull is known for many high mountain ridges, between which glacier tongues flow down into the valleys. The southernmost part of the glacier covers the central volcano Öræfajökull and Iceland's highest mountain peak, Hvannadalshnjúkur. Protected by the high ice masses, the Skaftafell, which is mostly grown over by plants, overlooks the black sands deposited to the west of the Skeiðará river. The sand consists mainly of ash, which comes from the frequent eruptions of the Grímsvötn and is transported towards the coast by so-called jökulhlaups, glacier runs.