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:
-
Luna moth
-
Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, United Kingdom
-
Bathing boxes at Brighton Beach, Australia
-
Natural arch carved in an iceberg, Antarctica
-
Corn maze in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, USA
-
Heidelberg, Germany
-
Whooper swans
-
Banggai cardinalfish
-
Family of humpback whales, Dutch Harbour, Alaska
-
Registan Square, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
-
Château dIf, Marseille, France
-
Koala sleeping in a eucalyptus tree
-
Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye, Scotland
-
Temple of Philae, Aswan, Egypt
-
Grizzly bears
-
Hoodoos, Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA
-
Colourful houses of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
-
Maple and bamboo forests in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
-
Taktsang Palphug Monastery, Bhutan
-
Turret Arch the in Arches National Park, Utah, United States
-
Guild houses of Grand-Place, Brussels, Belgium
-
Sunrise at a vineyard in Bordeaux, France
-
Tulips, Netherlands
-
Dalmatian pelicans, Lake Kerkini, Greece
-
Boreal owl
-
Arraial do Cabo, Brazil
-
American bison in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
-
Two red-crowned cranes in Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan
-
Butterflies in a meadow, Germany
-
Bicycles in Copenhagen, Denmark
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

