DAVID McCAHILL
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AN ARTIST’S STATEMENT “Svínafellsjökull Glacier” (pictured opposite)
The Svínafellsjökull Glacier, located in southeast Iceland, is one of many outlet glaciers stemming from the substantial Vatnajökull ice cap. A short hike from Iceland’s “ring road” brings visitors face to face with the Svínafellsjökull’s glacial lagoon, filled with gently bobbing, locomotive-sized blocks of ice. While the scale of the glacier is hard to fathom, with its deep crevasses and tall seracs, so is the speed of its retreat. Nearby farmers have been diligently measuring the decline of the glacier’s tongue since the mid 19th century using rope and iron stakes, some of which are still in place. Soon, the lagoon in the photo will be a lush meadow as the Svínafellsjökull’s tongue continues its steady march up the mountain. “Svartifoss” (pictured on page 118) This September, I was lucky enough to visit Iceland while scouting backpacking itineraries for an American student-travel company. The Svartifoss waterfall, located in Iceland’s Skaftafell National Park, is one of the country’s many geological jewels. The name Svartifoss, which means “the black falls” in Icelandic, refers to the hexagonal columns of basalt which shape the waterfall’s backdrop. The water flowing over the falls comes from the mighty Vatnajökull ice cap, and the imposing basalt columns remind viewers of Iceland’s rapidly changing geologic landscape.
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Volume 17 • 2022
